Smileband Health issues

Temperatures will start dropping in 2021, according to a mathematical model of the Sun's magnetic energy.

This, they say, will lead to a phenomenon known as the 'Maunder minimum' - which has previously been known as a mini ice age when it hit between 1646 and 1715, even causing London’s River Thames to freeze over. The study says that between 2020 and 2030 solar cycles will cancel each other out.

The model of the Sun's solar cycle is producing unprecedentedly accurate predictions of irregularities within the Sun's 11-year heartbeat.

It draws on dynamo effects in two layers of the Sun, one close to the surface and one deep within its convection zone.   

Researchers, led by maths professor Valentina Zharkova at Northumbria University, built up on previous research that predicts magnetic waves produced by the sun.

However, she has warned her model could not be used as proof of a mini ice age - in part because of global warming.   

'I hope global warning will be overridden by this effect, giving humankind and the Earth 30 years to sort out our pollution', she told sky news. 

The model predicts that the pair of waves become increasingly offset during Cycle 25, which peaks in 2022.

During Cycle 26, which covers the decade from 2030-2040, the two waves will become exactly out of sync and this will cause a significant reduction in solar activity.

Predictions from the model suggest that solar activity will fall by 60 per cent during the 2030s to conditions last seen during the 'mini ice age' that began in 1645, according to the results. It is 172 years since a scientist first spotted that the Sun's activity varies over a cycle lasting around 10 to 12 years.

But every cycle is a little different and none of the models of causes to date have fully explained fluctuations.

Many solar physicists have put the cause of the solar cycle down to a dynamo caused by convecting fluid deep within the Sun.

'In cycle 26, the two waves exactly mirror each other – peaking at the same time but in opposite hemispheres of the Sun,' said Dr Zharkova in 2015.

'Their interaction will be disruptive, or they will nearly cancel each other.

'We predict that this will lead to the properties of a 'Maunder minimum.'

Dr Zharkova and her colleagues found that adding a second dynamo, close to the surface, completes the picture with surprising accuracy.

Dr Zharkova and her colleagues derived their model using a technique called 'principal component analysis' of the magnetic field observations from the Wilcox Solar Observatory in California.

They examined three solar cycles-worth of magnetic field activity, covering the period from 1976-2008.

In addition, they compared their predictions to average sunspot numbers, another strong marker of solar activity.

All the predictions and observations were closely matched.

Smileband Health Issues

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of colon cancer include:

• A change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool, that lasts longer than four weeks
• Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool
• Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain
• A feeling that your bowel doesn't empty completely
• Weakness or fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss

Many people with colon cancer experience no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. When symptoms appear, they'll likely vary, depending on the cancer's size and location in your large intestine.

When to see a doctor

If you notice any symptoms of colon cancer, such as blood in your stool or an ongoing change in bowel habits, do not hesitate to make an appointment with your doctor.

Talk to your doctor about when you should begin screening for colon cancer. Guidelines generally recommend that colon cancer screenings begin at age 50. Your doctor may recommend more frequent or earlier screening if you have other risk factors, such as a family history of the disease. 

Causes

In most cases, it's not clear what causes colon cancer. Doctors know that colon cancer occurs when healthy cells in the colon develop errors in their genetic blueprint, the DNA.

Healthy cells grow and divide in an orderly way to keep your body functioning normally. But when a cell's DNA is damaged and becomes cancerous, cells continue to divide — even when new cells aren't needed. As the cells accumulate, they form a tumor.

With time, the cancer cells can grow to invade and destroy normal tissue nearby. And cancerous cells can travel to other parts of the body to form deposits there (metastasis).

Inherited gene mutations that increase the risk of colon cancer

Inherited gene mutations that increase the risk of colon cancer can be passed through families, but these inherited genes are linked to only a small percentage of colon cancers. Inherited gene mutations don't make cancer inevitable, but they can increase an individual's risk of cancer significantly.

The most common forms of inherited colon cancer syndromes are:

• Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). HNPCC, also called Lynch syndrome, increases the risk of colon cancer and other cancers. People with HNPCC tend to develop colon cancer before age 50.
• Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).FAP is a rare disorder that causes you to develop thousands of polyps in the lining of your colon and rectum. People with untreated FAP have a greatly increased risk of developing colon cancer before age 40.

FAP, HNPCC and other, rarer inherited colon cancer syndromes can be detected through genetic testing. If you're concerned about your family's history of colon cancer, talk to your doctor about whether your family history suggests you have a risk of these conditions.

Association between diet and increased colon cancer risk

Studies of large groups of people have shown an association between a typical Western diet and an increased risk of colon cancer. A typical Western diet is high in fat and low in fiber.

When people move from areas where the typical diet is low in fat and high in fiber to areas where the typical Western diet is most common, the risk of colon cancer in these people increases significantly. It's not clear why this occurs, but researchers are studying whether a high-fat, low-fiber diet affects the microbes that live in the colon or causes underlying inflammation that may contribute to cancer risk. This is an area of active investigation and research is ongoing.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase your risk of colon cancer include:

• Older age. The great majority of people diagnosed with colon cancer are older than 50. Colon cancer can occur in younger people, but it occurs much less frequently.
• African-American race. African-Americans have a greater risk of colon cancer than do people of other races.
• A personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps. If you've already had colon cancer or adenomatous polyps, you have a greater risk of colon cancer in the future.
• Inflammatory intestinal conditions.Chronic inflammatory diseases of the colon, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, can increase your risk of colon cancer.
• Inherited syndromes that increase colon cancer risk. Genetic syndromes passed through generations of your family can increase your risk of colon cancer. These syndromes include familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, which is also known as Lynch syndrome.
• Family history of colon cancer. You're more likely to develop colon cancer if you have a parent, sibling or child with the disease. If more than one family member has colon cancer or rectal cancer, your risk is even greater.
• Low-fiber, high-fat diet. Colon cancer and rectal cancer may be associated with a diet low in fiber and high in fat and calories. Research in this area has had mixed results. Some studies have found an increased risk of colon cancer in people who eat diets high in red meat and processed meat.
• A sedentary lifestyle. If you're inactive, you're more likely to develop colon cancer. Getting regular physical activity may reduce your risk of colon cancer.
• Diabetes. People with diabetes and insulin resistance have an increased risk of colon cancer.
• Obesity. People who are obese have an increased risk of colon cancer and an increased risk of dying of colon cancer when compared with people considered normal weight.
• Smoking. People who smoke may have an increased risk of colon cancer.
• Alcohol. Heavy use of alcohol increases your risk of colon cancer.
• Radiation therapy for cancer. Radiation therapy directed at the abdomen to treat previous cancers increases the risk of colon and rectal cancer.

Prevention

Get screened for colon cancer

People with an average risk of colon cancer can consider screening beginning at age 50. But people with an increased risk, such as those with a family history of colon cancer, should consider screening sooner.

Several screening options exist — each with its own benefits and drawbacks. Talk about your options with your doctor, and together you can decide which tests are appropriate for you.

Make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk

You can take steps to reduce your risk of colon cancer by making changes in your everyday life. Take steps to:

• Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains contain vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants, which may play a role in cancer prevention. Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables so that you get an array of vitamins and nutrients.
• Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit the amount of alcohol you drink to no more than one drink a day for women and two for men.
• Stop smoking. Talk to your doctor about ways to quit that may work for you.
• Exercise most days of the week. Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days. If you've been inactive, start slowly and build up gradually to 30 minutes. Also, talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program.
• Maintain a healthy weight. If you are at a healthy weight, work to maintain your weight by combining a healthy diet with daily exercise. If you need to lose weight, ask your doctor about healthy ways to achieve your goal. Aim to lose weight slowly by increasing the amount of exercise you get and reducing the number of calories you eat.

Colon cancer prevention for people with a high risk

Some medications have been found to reduce the risk of precancerous polyps or colon cancer. However, not enough evidence exists to recommend these medications to people who have an average risk of colon cancer. These options are generally reserved for people with a high risk of colon cancer.

For instance, some evidence links a reduced risk of polyps and colon cancer to regular use of aspirin or aspirin-like drugs. But it's not clear what dose and what length of time would be needed to reduce the risk of colon cancer. Taking aspirin daily has some risks, including gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers, so doctors typically don't recommend this as a prevention strategy unless you have an increased risk of colon cancer.

Smileband General News

Rihanna's cousin has been shot dead in Barbados just hours after they spent Christmas Day together. The 29-year-old singer posted a series of photos of her and Tavon Kaiseen Alleyne together and called for an end to gun crime as she mourned his death.

Alleyne, 21, was walking through a track in the St Michael's area of the holiday island at around 7pm on Tuesday night when he was approached by a man and shot several times.

'RIP cousin... can't believe it was just last night that I held you in my arms!' the heartbroken Wild Thoughts singer wrote to her 59million Instagram followers. 

'Never thought that would be the last time I felt the warmth in your body!!! Love you always man! The eight-time Grammy award winner added the hashtag, '#endgunviolence,' at the end of the post.  

Earlier this month, Barbados Police said there had been a significant increase in gun-related crimes on the island compared to 2016. Of the 28 murders committed so far this year, 22 were gun-related, figures revealed. 

According to national news  Alleyne's killer, who has not been identified, shot several times before fleeing the scene. 

The 21-year-old was rushed to a nearby hospital in a private vehicle but eventually succumbed to his injuries.

Rhianna later added a memorial panel to her Instagram Stories, with a black background adding his handle - @merka_95.  

'Rest up lil cuz,' she wrote, with emojis of praying hands, a crying face and a broken heart.

The Work singer shared four shots along with the post, illustrating how close she and her cousin were.

A woman named Tanella also posted a photo of herself with Alleyne at the hospital, putting an emoji of an angel over his face. She referred to him as 'my  brother,' suggesting she may be another family member.

'I never thought the day would come that I would have to bury you my love , omggg!!!' Tanella wrote. 

'This was our first Christmas together we clean we decorate and everything!! Tavon I know you was trying to be a better person!! I loveee you soooo muchhhhhhhhh brother omg!'

Smileband Health issues

It's that time of year when we're plagued by coughs, sneezes and often a headache or gut pain due to festive overindulgence. And while in most cases it will be just a minor ailment rearing its head, how do you know when your symptoms could be a sign of something more serious?

No-one likes to consult a doctor unnecessarily, but there are times when you should always seek medical advice.

It's always better to be seen than dismiss the signs and delay an important diagnosis until the condition has become worse – or it's even too late to treat.

Here, I reveal the top 10 top symptoms you should never ignore – and why. 1. WEIGHT LOSS FOR NO APPARENT REASON

Most of us love losing weight and if it's achieved through sensible diet and lifestyle changes, then great.

What concerns medical professionals is unexplained weight loss – where there is no obvious reason for the pounds to be falling off someone, i.e. there has been no change to your normal diet or levels of activity.

As a rough guide, if you lose five percent of your body weight (e.g. eight pounds if you weigh 175 pounds) in less than six months without following a weight loss diet, then it's time to let your doctor know – especially if it's associated with fatigue, tiredness or other persistent niggling symptoms.

Unexplained weight loss could be a sign of an undiagnosed illness such as gut problems that affect absorption of nutrients, an overactive thyroid, undiagnosed diabetes, depression or the big worry for everyone – cancer. While in most cases it won't turn out to be cancer, unexplained weight loss is a red flag symptom and may not always be accompanied by loss of appetite.

2. AN UNUSUAL THICKENING OR LUMP ANYWHERE ON THE BODY 

If you notice an unusual lump anywhere on your body, you should always tell a doctor. While a lump in areas such as the breast or scrotum is likely to send you promptly to the doctor, don't ignore lumps elsewhere, either.

While most lumps are due to a non-serious condition such as benign (non-cancerous) growths (e.g. lipoma, fibroma or cysts) they all need to be checked and diagnosed. It is often difficult for even a doctor to tell different lumps apart and you may need a biopsy so the lump can be examined under a microscope and diagnosed accurately. Soft lumps, such as a hernia (in which a part of the body such as a loop of intestine pushes through a weakness in the muscle or tissues that normally contain it) also need assessment as some types can get trapped and painful, and can even lose their blood supply (a strangulated hernia) which needs urgent treatment. If a lump becomes increasingly painful, seek medical advice straight away.

As for thickening of the skin, this is where you run a finger over an area and feel that underlying tissues are thickened or hardened - or feel different to the surrounding area - without necessarily forming a lump.

3. CHEST PAIN

Chest pain can be caused by many conditions, some of which are serious (e.g. heart attack or a clot on the lung) and some not (e.g. spasm of tiny muscles between the ribs, or an inflammation of rib cartilage called costochondritis).

Chest pain can be due to acid reflux, or heartburn, and an estimated 20 per cent of cases are mistaken for a heart attack – but it is often difficult for even doctors to tell these apart.

While angina (heart pain) and heart attack can cause different symptoms in different people of different ages, chest pain or tightness is the main warning sign for both men and women. The pain may feel like an aching discomfort, tight pressure or burning, and can be sharp, dull or feel like a bear hug or an elephant sitting on your chest.

Sudden chest pain should always be taken seriously and medical assistance sought without delay. NHS Choices recommends that you call 999 for an ambulance if you develop sudden severe chest pain, especially if it:

• feels heavy, pressing or tight
• lasts longer than 15 minutes
• spreads to your arms, back or jaw
• is accompanied by breathlessness, nausea, sweating or coughing up blood

If chest pain is less severe, or resolves, contact your doctor or attend a local walk-in center for assessment. You could have had an episode of angina for example (heart pain due to lack of oxygen reaching heart muscle) which needs treatment to prevent a future heart attack.

4. A CHANGE IN BOWEL HABIT

Many people feel embarrassed talking about their bowels with someone else, but it's a conversation that really could save your life. Bowel cancer is one of the biggest killers and it's striking more people at a younger age than ever, so don't ignore a change in your bowel movements – it's one of the few ways your intestines can show that something is wrong.

A change in bowel habit means a persistent change in opening your bowel so it is more or less frequent than is usual for you.

Your stools may also change in consistency, so you develop constipation, or a general slowing down of bowel movements, or diarrhea and a speeding up of your intestines.

If this continues for more than a week or two, seek medical advice - earlier if you develop abdominal pain or notice blood or slime in your motions. Try not to feel embarrassed - your doctor is used to dealing with problems like this.

5. UNEXPECTED BLOOD LOSS FROM ANY PART OF THE BODY

This is a frightening symptom that you are unlikely to ignore. You should let your doctor know as soon as possible if you. 

Smileband Geanral news

A group of inmates offered to help Mexican drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman escape prison in a video they filmed inside a California correctional facility.

A group of five men, using sunglasses, hats and clothes to conceal their faces, pledged their support to Guzman and bragged about their control over the prison believed to be in Taft, California.  Guzman, who is accused of running one of the world's biggest drug-trafficking operations, was extradited from Mexico to New York last week to stand trial. Speaking in Spanish, the five men announced their intentions and said: 'We want to tell the people this: If you bring 'el señor' here and if 'el señor' asks us to free him, we are going to take him out immediately.'

They bragged about having access to women, cell phones and drugs, and said they had control of the entire prison.

The group's leader 'Chucky' also said he had 'bought' the guards at the prison.

He told the leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel: 'Everything is ready for you. What you say is the law. Here you have more than 3,500 soldiers.'

The man seemed certain the drug lord would end up at the facility, but that remains unclear, since Guzman is wanted in six states and faces charges in a number of different judicial districts. 

Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesperson Jill Tyson told the LA times'Upon learning of the video, BOP oversight staff on-site at the facility began working with the contractor to investigate the allegations of irregularities at the facility. 

The low to minimum security prison in Taft is the only facility run by a private corporation in California, according to the bureau's website. Guzman arrived in a small jet at Long Island's MacArthur Airport on January 19, having traveled from a prison in the northern state of Chihuahua, where his cartel rules.

Guzman pleaded not guilty to charges that he ran the world's largest drug-trafficking organization during a decades-long criminal career.

The indictment in Brooklyn, which includes 17 criminal counts, carries a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison, Robert Capers, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said at a news conference last week.

U.S. prosecutors gave assurances to Mexican officials that they would not seek the death penalty in order to secure his extradition, since Mexico opposes capital punishment.  

As leader of the notorious Sinaloa cartel, Guzman oversaw perhaps the world's largest transnational cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine smuggling operation. The cartel played a key role in Mexico's decade-long drug war that has killed more than 100,000 people. 

El Chapo was captured a year ago after he had fled a high-security penitentiary in central Mexico through a mile-long tunnel in his second dramatic prison escape.

He is now being held in Manhattan's Metropolitan Correctional Center, MCC, where 9/11 terrorist Ramzi Yousef, crime boss John Gotti and fraudster Bernie Madoff, were all once jailed.  

'I assure you, no tunnel will be built leading to his bathroom,' Special Agent In Charge Angel Melendez of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations said at a news conference.  Located just south of Chinatown, and built in 1975, the jail has slit-shaped windows with frosted glass to prevent prisoners from getting even a glance at the city below. 

A tunnel leads to the adjacent federal courthouse which means inmates can be transported to and from their trial without ever seeing the sun. 

The jail is sandwiched between federal prosecutors' offices and two federal courthouses and is protected by steel barricades that can stop a 7 1/2-ton truck. Cameras capable of reading a newspaper a block away are trained on the area.

Smileband Health issues

Deciding which treatment you need

A team of doctors and other professionals discuss the best treatment and care for you. They're called a multidisciplinary team (MDT). Your treatment depends on:

• the type of skin cancer
• how far it's grown or spread
• where the cancer is
• the stage of the cancer (if relevant)

Your doctor will discuss your treatment, its benefits and the possible side effects with you.

Treatment overview

Surgery

The main treatment for skin cancer is surgery. For most people, surgery removes the cancer and is the only treatment they need.

The surgery is usually minor. Your usually have an injection of local anaesthetic in the area and then the doctor removes the cancer and a small amount of the surrounding tissue. You might have a skin graft depending on where the cancer is in the body, or if it covers a larger area.

There are different types of surgery, what you need depends on where the cancer is and how big it is. 

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is a treatment for BCC or SCC. You're most likely to have this if:

• the cancer covers a wide area
• it's in an area that's difficult to operate on
• surgery isn't suitable for you
• it's to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back after surgery
• the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes    

  Immunotherapy

  Imiquimod cream (Aldara) uses the immune system to attack cancers. Imiquimod makes cells produce more chemicals such as interferon and these destroy the skin cancer cells.
  You might have it as a treatment if you have BCC in the top layer of skin or actinic keratosis. Actinic keratosis can develop into a SCC over time.

  Photodynamic therapy

  Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses a drug to make your skin sensitive to light. Once you have had the drug your doctor focuses a special type of light on the area where the cancer is. This destroys the cancer cells. 

  PDT is a treatment for BCC, Bowen's disease and actinic keratosis (solar keratosis). 

  Chemotherapy

  Chemotherapy cream is a treatment for:

  • actinic keratosis (solar keratosis)
  • skin cancers that are only on the top layer of the skin
  • Bowen's disease

  You usually have a type of chemotherapy cream containing Fluorouracil (5FU). Actinic keratosis might develop into squamous cell skin cancer over time. So you have treatment to try to prevent this from happening.

  You might have chemotherapy tablets or injections if your cancer has spread. Having chemotherapy in this way can help to relieve symptoms in cancers that cannot be cured. 

Smileband Health issues

Can humans be frozen and defrosted successfully?

There are two advances that make cryonics a little less far-fetched that it once was. The first is vitrification. As Arctic explorers and mountaineers have learned, humans are not designed to be frozen and defrosted. When our cells freeze, they fill with ice crystals, which break down cell walls as they expand, reducing our body to mush once it is warmed up again.

How does vitrification work?

Vitrification prevents this by replacing the blood with a mixture of antifreeze-like chemicals and an organ preservation solution. When cooled to below -90C, the fluid becomes a glass-like solid.

The technique has substantially improved the reliability of freezing and thawing embryos, and particularly eggs, in fertility treatment and it works for small pieces of tissue and blood vessels. Earlier this year, scientists managed to cryogenically freeze the brain of a rabbit and recover it in an “excellent” state – although it is not clear if the brain’s functions would have been preserved as well as its superficial appearance. However, even vitrifying larger structures, such as human kidneys for transplantation, has never been done clinically and remains some way off.  Barry Fuller, a professor in surgical science and low temperature medicine, at University College London, said: “There is ongoing research into these scientific challenges, and a potential future demonstration of the ability to cryopreserve human organs for transplantation would be a major first step into proving the concept, but at the moment we cannot achieve that.”

What is the second advance?

This is the growing appreciation that our personality, skills and memories are to some extent defined by the connections between neurons. This has led some to speculate that rather than bringing the actual body back to life, the brain’s contents could be “downloaded” on to a computer, allowing the person to live as a robot in the future.

This might have the whiff of nonsense, but Nick Bostrom, a professor of philosophy at the University of Oxford’s Future of Humanity Institute, and his colleague, Anders Sandberg, are both banking on this possibility. “As a head, my life would be limited, but by then we will be able to make real connections to computers,” Anders said in 2013 interview, So my hope is that, once revived, my memories and personality could be downloaded into a computer. However, many neuroscientists have pointed out that even if you could code the astronomical number of connections between the brain’s 100bn neurons, even this would not capture the full complexity of the human mind.

So should I get my body preserved?

From a purely scientific perspective, your money is probably better spent while you are still alive.

• The headline on this article was amended on 18 November 2016 to use the more accurate term of cryonics, rather than cryogenics.