Stinky farts & blood pressure? Who studies this stuff?

The stink in farts controls blood pressure.... so they say.

A smelly rotten-egg gas in farts controls blood pressure in mice, a new study finds.

The unpleasant aroma of the gas, called hydrogen sulfide (H2S), can be a little too familiar, as it is expelled by bacteria living in the human colon and eventually makes its way, well, out.

The new research found that cells lining mice's blood vessels naturally make the gas and this action can help keep the rodents' blood pressure low by relaxing the blood vessels to prevent hypertension (high blood pressure). This gas is "no doubt" produced in cells lining human blood vessels too, the researchers said.

"Now that we know hydrogen sulfide's role in regulating blood pressure, it may be possible to design drug therapies that enhance its formation as an alternative to the current methods of treatment for hypertension," said Johns Hopkins neuroscientist Solomon H. Snyder, M.D., a co-author of the study detailed in the Oct. 24th issue of the journal Science.

Snyder and his colleagues compared normal mice to mice that were missing a gene for an enzyme known as CSE, long suspected as being responsible for making hydrogen sulfide. As they measured hydrogen sulfide levels taken from tissues of the CSE-deficient mice, the scientists found that the gas was depleted in the cardiovascular systems of the altered mice. By contrast, normal mice had higher levels of the gas, thereby showing that hydrogen sulfide is naturally made by mammalian tissues using CSE.

Next, the mice were subjected to higher blood pressures comparable to serious hypertension in humans. Scientists had them respond to a chemical called methacholine that relaxes normal blood vessels. The blood vessels of the CSE-lacking mice hardly relaxed, indicating that hydrogen sulfide is a huge contender for regulating blood pressure.

Hydrogen sulfide is the most recently discovered member of a family of gasotransmitters, small molecules inside our bodies with important physiological functions.

This study is the first to reveal that the CSE enzyme that triggers hydrogen sulfide is activated itself in the same way as other enzymes when they trigger their respective gasotransmitter, such as a nitric oxide-forming enzyme that also regulates blood pressure, Dr. Snyder said.

Because gasotransmitters are common in mammals all over the evolutionary tree, these findings on the importance of hydrogen sulfide are thought to have broad applications to human diseases, such as diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases.

The research was supported by grants from the U.S. Public Health Service and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research as well as a Research Scientist Award.

Between the husband and Demon #2, I guess this explains why I have such great blood pressure.

I wanna know who actually decided to study this.

Fried Grasshoppers, burning house, colors and STDs.

What vegetable would you serve with a plate of fried grasshoppers? Fried grasshoppers? Well, I think I would just make a stir fry out of the whole thing... I'm assuming grasshoppers probably taste like chicken? Chicken Stir-Fry is good. Some broccoli, pea pods... water chestnuts, gotta have those. Plus, then you wouldn't know if it was the water chestnuts or the grasshoppers that were crunching between your teeth. Num Yummy.

I love that commerical... have you seen it? Honestly, I can't even think of what the commerical is for anymore. A soup I think. Anyway, this guy is eating in his cubical and this other guy comes up and tells him he is making new nameplates and wants his name and the dude is so into his food, which is yummy, he says "numyummy". So the next day his nameplate says "Num Yummy". I just love it. Num Yummy.

My parents should have named me that.

If you realize your house is on fire while you are using the bathroom, do you wipe or just run for the door? I would wipe. Yep I would. Habit I suppose. Especially if it's #2. Thats just gross. Could you imagine running outside with that in your pants? People would think your burning house doesn't smell like a regular burning house.

Why is there a light in the fridge but not in the freezer? because you don't normally stand with the freezer open wondering what to eat?

When thinking about yourself, what color do you see yourself as? sky blue pink. I do, really.

Why are people able to have unprotected sex with someone, but afraid to tell them if they have an STD? Because sex isn't a committed act in a case where you would probably give someone an STD.. and to tell them you have one after the fact... thats personal and you just can't get all personal with something you've just had sex with.

just go here and play.

What does time mean?

A friend of mine that I went to high school with & I had this bright idea that we were going to plan the upcoming 20th class reunion. Thats another post, but we have 3 years to do it.

3 years.

Long time, right?

Last night I was thinking about this and then it hit me... in 3 years Demon #1 will be 17 years old and a Junior in high school. Demon #2 will be 15 years old and a Sophomore in high school. She's going to be the age we all were when we grew up... the whole class reuinion...

OMG I'm going to pass out.

Then I think about my friend who mentioned to me yesterday something about her kid and Kindergarten. Now, to me, Kindergarten to 3rd grade isn't that big of a stretch. They are still little! And yeah, I know, I've gone through it. I'd probably have a panic attack about the 3rd grade thing if I was in her shoes. But 11th grade? That seems so far away... this is my little girl, the one who is just blossoming into a woman..... and who has the hormones and mood swings of a Queen Bitch from Hell (hence the whole demon spawn thing... I tell ya, I called it when I was pregnant.). I cannot imagine her in 11th grade.. having boyfriends... driving (Lord, allow your light to shine upon me)... figuring out if it's marine biology or meteorology she's going to go after. This just isn't right.

Not in 3 years. That's a lifetime away.

.... isn't it?




....................
This post gave me an idea for a new design! At least my wacked out thoughts are good for something.

Wordless Wednesday. I think we're being followed.

I Quit T-shirt Designing

I Quit Snowmobiling
Your sledding buddies will get a laugh out of this one when they see "I quit snowmobiling" but then see that it actually says "I quit my job so I could do more snowmobiling".

I hate having days like this. I can't think of anything to design. I made this one, but it's only because I saw a similar quote on another site. It said "I quit ________ dancing".

But now I'm stuck. My mind is completely blank and I should be pushing out designs like crazy with Christmas coming up. But I can't. It's like a writers block sort of thing.

Throw me a bone - what should I design today?

I just hate days like this.

Typical Monday.

Ok I did one for scrapbooking, too. I Quit Scrapbooking I really am bored today and not very creative.

How to wash your... um... yeah.

So yesterday Kimber wanted to know if anyone on IC Forums had used a bidet.

That word is so wierd. It's not even pronounced anywhere near how it's spelled! And they wonder why the English language is so hard to learn.

Anyway, she shared this link. A How-To on how to use one of these things. Who comes up with this stuff? Here is a list of the "warnings" listed.

Be very careful when turning on the water, as many bidets can produce a very high jet of water with only a slight turn of the control.

This just sent me into a rolling laugh... seriously.

Dry wipe at least once after having a bowel movement and before using the bidet. Excess fecal matter may clog the bidet drain. This can be quite disgusting for someone who uses the bidet after you.

eeeeeeewwwwwww and if you are going to dry wipe once.. why not just finish the job?

Be very careful adjusting the temperature and pressure on the bidet. You want to avoid scalding sensitive skin, and high pressure can be very irritating.

or thrilling....

Drinking from a bidet is not recommended. The stream can ricochet off a soiled area and become contaminated.

Yeah because washing your ass makes you thirsty.

I'm thinking that the experience of actually using one of these would be so fun & comical that it would be a shame to experience it alone. This is something to share with friends!

An award? For me?

I was given the "I Love Your Blog" award by CookingMom. I've been seeing these "I heart your blog" graphics all over and started feeling sort of left out, thinking my blog probably did suck... but now someone loves me!!!

Thank you so very very much! I'm all warm & fuzzy feeling inside now.

This is a "pay-it-forward" type of award, so there are rules to accepting it. They are:

* Display your award.
* Link back to the person who gave you the award.
* Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
* Put links to those blogs on yours.
* Leave a message on the blogs of the people you’ve nominated.
* Enjoy your award!

I had to pass this on to the blogger friends I have out there... a few of them I probably sucked into this whole blogging thing in the first place.

1. Kitty who is having a baby in a few days so her blog BETTER be filled with the whining of new baby mom stories pretty soon!
2. Kimber ... because, well.... it's Kimber.
3. Jen is one my favorites because she doesn't normally say a lot on our forums, but she really opens up on her blog!
4. Rae (aka "Mom") because it is the coolest thing ever to see a Bloggin' Grandma learning the blogging ropes! She will probably have no idea what to do with this "award" information, but thats ok!
   
5. My bestest friend in the whole wide world. She's another "just because it's her".
   
6. My sweet Lesley. She is the photography queen with the most incredible stories behind the pictures!
   
7. Misty. She is the brain behind Camera Critters. Anyone who can be as obsessed as photographing animals as I am deserves this.
   

Food 4 Thoughts & Friday Fill-ins

Breakfast
If you could jump into any book … what would it be and why?
One of the Little House books because I'm sick of the prices of everything and going back to selling chicken eggs seems like an ok deal to me right about now.

Lunch
Tell how you are feeling today in the form of a weather report. (For example, partly cloudy, sunny with a chance for showers etc.)
partly shitty?? Ok seriously... um. It's a little foggy here this morning as the sun is just starting to rise. Seems a little warm, maybe a small storm front coming in because of the lightning but lets hope it blows over once the sun is completely up.

Dinner
What activities make you lose track of time?
Memes.

Midnight Snack
What were you doing one hour ago?
sleeping... well, maybe not. I think an hour ago I was trying to get back a small part of the bed from the dogs so I could sleep.

Recipe for this Week - Pick your battles.

PLEASE PLAY !!!! Come on you know you want to!

To play along go here.



Play along by clicking the image!

1. Follow the yellow brick road. (wow... that was lame)
2. My pillow is something I always take with me on vacation.
3. To achieve your goals, you must get off your ass.
4. The way to my heart is through chocolate & peanut butter is something I'd like you to know about me.
5. I have a crush on Angelina Jolie.
6. That dead body floats.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to nothing really... except I think I'm going to a movie tonight with my niece, tomorrow my plans include a birthday party for my nephew and Sunday, I want to not worry about it until it gets here!

Toys, money, fridges, adresses & ceilings

Click the toilet paper to play with us!

What was your favorite toy as a child?
I'll have to say My Little Pony. I got my first one in 3rd grade and it evolved from there... I collected them through high school. I still have most of them yet, but I did sell one on Ebay a couple years ago for 80 bucks. If money was no object, but you could only buy ONE thing, what would you buy your spouse/significant other? A piece of land with a huge shed on it.

What about your children? Krissy wouldn't forgive me if I wouldn't buy her an XBox 360, which I could buy now but I won't. I suppose I'd buy her every video game system imaginable with every Sonic game ever made.
Taryn? A room size aquarium.

Now, if you only had $10 to buy one thing, what would it be? 10 peanut butter cups.

What's on your refrigerator? tons of magnets. A school calendar, some notes from church, a phone list, some photo Christmas cards and a picture of a bear that Krissy drew.

What's on top of it? phone books, a Mickey Mouse cookie jar, a cribbage board, my mom's silver set and a box of scalloped potatos that Krissy is supposed to bring to church for the food shelf.

Go look in it. Whats in there that would gross the rest of us out? Yesterday I could have listed a few things, but the husband cleaned it out last night.

Whats your favorite type of potato? Mashed w/ a puddle of butter in the middle.

Do you have an address book? Do you write in it or do you just stick return addresses/envelopes in it? I do both. I write in the ones I know and then get lazy and it's now filled with about 20 envelopes.

Look up. Do you like your ceiling? It's dirty, but for a ceiling it's ok. And there's a fly on it. I wish I could walk upside down like a fly and not have all the blood rush to my head.

Redoing rooms & lost treasures.

My project this week is the computer room. Yes, I took before pics but I'm not posting them yet.

We moved into this house in 1999. A short little man (he really was short) named Clyde lived here before us. He was a nice man; single, no children. He worked for the city and was well known throughout town. He died in 1998 and his niece put the house up for sale... and well, thats how we got it.
Anyway, Clyde had his routine. When we moved in the house went into shock. He didn't do a lot of updating, but everything was in great condition for being as old as it all was. That was, until we started walking in areas Clyde never walked. That is when the house went into shock. Tiles started crumbling under our feet. Seriously. Like dust. It was the strangest thing!
So somehow or another we got a hand-me-down piece of carpet that was almost big enough for the computer room. PERFECT condition. We took it and stuck it in the computer room. Didn't put it down professionally or anything, it just laid there. No staples or anything. And there it sat - until this morning.

Almost 10 years of toddlers.. preschoolers... pets... yeah, it needed to be torn out. So I did.

I am going to lay tile sometime this week. Much easier to clean than carpet.

While I'm pulling up this carpet I see something round & black on the floor. I pick it up and turn it over... "Maxwell". Max's lost tag Of course being the stupid softy that I am and I miss my Max like fricken crazy, I start bawling sitting there in the middle of the computer room floor.

Then I think to myself, "wouldn't it be funny if I found my class ring?"

Guess what I found?



I haven't seen it in over 5 years I'm sure.

Sunday Stealing: The "Sometimes" Meme

The "Sometimes" Meme: All you have to do is finish the sentence...

Sometimes I just need: to just have things be about me and only me

Sometimes I want: Angelina Jolie's life. Sometimes.

Sometimes I like to: sit outside after school and watch the kids drive/walk/bike home.

Sometimes all it takes: is a smile.

Sometimes I picture: living in a big farmhouse.

Sometimes I wish: for a different life.

Sometimes I find: those unmatched socks I've been looking for!

Sometimes I take: one too many aspirin because my headaches are too bad.

Sometimes I look: really good and sometimes I look like crap.

Sometimes I hate: being at home. Occasionally I want to go somewhere.

Sometimes it’s nice: to walk in the rain.

Sometimes it hurts: when I try to get up from sitting here.

Sometimes it makes me happy: when the dogs pick on the cats.

Sometimes it’s sad: when people can't find the good in things.

Sometimes I listen: to classical music.

Sometimes I sleep: on the couch.

Sometimes I like to watch: medical shows.

Sometimes I feel: like I'm the only one who's happy.

Sometimes I rant: less than I usually do.

Sometimes I never: take a shower that day.

Sometimes I really: just want to scream.

Camera Critters 10.11 - The Zoo

Another trip to the zoo this weekend. This time we went to the Minnesota Zoo. I took 157 pictures total... I don't think I'll post them all today :)

Sorry... I like the cats!

But I did get some fun shots of the grizzlies... (I think they were my favorites)
I think this was a red panda.... a bald eagle who had a broken wing.....sea horses. They are so fun to watch. I never knew they held onto things with their tails!