FDA Approves New Class of Drugs that Suppress “Bad” Genes

The FDA has approved the first of a new class of drugs that use RNA to suppress “bad” genes from causing disease. These treatments use what is called gene silencing. RNA helps DNA carry out tasks, so stopping specific RNA can keep a person from developing a genetic disease. This approval was specifically to treat a rare disease, but this kind of process can potentially do so much more. If you want to know more here is the press release from the FDA.

And if you are really curious about gene silencing here is a webpage from the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

Can Lungs Be Grown? New Research Says Yes

The first successful lab grown lung transplant has occurred! A University of Texas Medical Branch research team produced new lungs for a group of pigs. They started with a template of a lung taken from an unrelated animal and applied cells taken from the pigs. These new lungs were grown in a bioreactor for 30 days. Then each pig received a transplant made of its own cells. All pigs in the study remained healthy with one original lung and one transplanted lung. They also showed to have normal levels of oxygen saturation and no rejections of the new lungs. There is still work to be done as they did not attempt to replace both lungs in any of the pigs, but hopefully that will be on the docket soon. Take a look for yourself. https://www.utmb.edu/newsroom/article11815.aspx

Adaptive Outdoor Fall Activities for the Elderly or Disabled

Nature can be enjoyed by all so even if it may be more difficult for you or your loved one to get out don’t let that detour you. A disability doesn’t lessen one’s need for nature and although it can be a bit of a challenge the benefits make it worth the effort. There are just a few things you will need to consider before making it an enjoyable experience: accessibility, accommodations and adaptive equipment.

Benefits of Being Outdoors

Studies have shown that just the act of being in and observing nature can benefit our mental and physical health. Most of us know that the sun delivers vitamin D, which regulates calcium absorption, lowers your risk of developing soft or fragile bones, and offers a protective effect against cancer, diabetes and multiple sclerosis. But did you know that recent studies have shown a few other noteworthy properties of sunlight that include:

• Pain killing properties
• Increased subcutaneous fat metabolism
• Daytime sun exposure improves evening alertness

Additional benefits of being outdoors include elevated mood, decreased feelings of depression and anxiety, improvements in self-esteem and it just plain feels good!

Accessibility and Accommodations

First you will need to know where to find places with proper accessibility for persons with limited mobility. Look at the website or call ahead if you are unsure of the accommodations. State governments have great resources that provide access to the great outdoors.

For a list of wheelchair accessible trails by state, visit the traillink.com website.

For information about accessibility in parks and historical sites see:
101Mobility.com
tripsavvy.com

A list of outdoor activities including fishing piers and platforms can be found at the Disabled Sports USA website.

There are many places that provide organized outdoor recreation for any ability, search the internet for places in your area.

Adaptive Equipment

Being in the field of Occupational therapy, I know there is no problem that can’t be solved with some kind of special piece of equipment or gadget. Adaptive equipment can range from “reacher” gadgets that can help you play a yard game to adaptive fishing equipment that makes it possible for people with all abilities to fish.

Outdoor Activities Ideas for Disabled Adults

From something as simple as sitting by a waterfall to participating in an outdoor activity, just ten minutes in the outdoors is mind changing. A change of scenery or a new adventure can rejuvenate mind, body and soul.

Visit a pumpkin patch
Go apple picking
Find and enjoy accessible trails
Watch the stars
Sit by a waterfall
Go fishing
Go target shooting (guns/archery)
Find nearby horse riding for the disabled
Visit and learn about the natural history of a place

Get out and feel the breeze and the sun, snow or the rain, nature is a natural high.

By Janet Sander, COTA

3 Things That Surprised Me During the Full Solar Eclipse

A full eclipse of the sun – everybody was so excited except for ME… until I was right in the middle of it!

I had the wonderful opportunity to stay in the small town of Red Bud in Southern Illinois during the total solar eclipse yesterday. I was quite pleased to be in the path of totality but I really wasn’t expecting much. We had our glasses and I have seen lunar eclipses so I imagined the sun slowly disappearing behind the moon until it looked similar to the moon as it get sliced up at different phases of the month. Yeah, yeah…! The thing I really wanted to experience was darkness in the afternoon so I made sure I had a front row seat. I guess since my expectations were so low it wasn’t difficult for the eclipse to amaze me!

1. UV Rays
Donning my usual prescription glasses that transition into sunglasses, I stepped out into the nearly hundred-degree afternoon to check the progress on the eclipse. I had my ISO certified eclipse glasses in hand and was ready to go. I checked out the progress with my ISO shades on and it was really getting there. The sun was similar in shape to the moon when it’s a few days away from being full. What surprised me though was that people were starting to comment on how much darker it was getting. I thought my prescription glasses had turned to sunglasses but when I took them off they were still clear! It still looked plenty bright enough to turn them but they were not dark – like when I’m in a car. I have been doing some research but I haven’t found a good explanation yet. UV rays turn them into sunglasses so why were they clear?

2. 360 Degree Sunset
Earlier on the day of the eclipse, someone said that there should be a sunset all around the sky. I hadn’t really heard that before and it caught my attention. Hmm… When the time came and I could look up without my glasses, I saw the full eclipse in all its glory. There was a lot of light wiggling around the black sphere that hid the sun reminding me of the mythical creature Medusa. And it was getting pretty dark! I started looking for the sunset and saw that it was indeed completely encircling me. I started the video on my phone and made a complete circle capturing the continuous sunset. Click for video.

3. Time of Darkness
The only other thing that I will mention here is that the amount of time it was dark really was so short it made me go “What!?” It was dark while it was safe to look at the sun (total coverage by moon) but when the slightest sliver came back it brightened back up almost completely. It was seconds later and it was completely bright again.

Next total eclipse is in seven years and I’m already thinking about making sure I have a plan to see it. In one short afternoon, I went from thinking a full eclipse of the sun was a big yawn to a big wow! Come on 2024!

By Diana Arseneau

3 Methods To Safely View An Eclipse

While the sun seems to get all the glory, every so often the moon decides to get in the way and steal the show. We all know that a solar eclipse happens when the moon obscures the sun. A solar eclipse only has to cast a part of a shadow, known as the penumbra, to be visible with solar eclipse glasses or light filters. Think of the shadow cast by the moon as a cone, if the cone doesn’t extend all the way to the earth’s surface, then it won’t create a shadow for us to be able to look at the eclipse without hurting our eyes. Every once in a while the moon is in just the right spot to completely shut out all light from the sun on a small area on the earth, this is a total solar eclipse. The only way to look at a solar eclipse is to be under the umbra of the moon, or it’s complete shadow. If you are not in the path of the umbra there is still enough sunlight to damage your eyes, do not look at the sun!

Cycles Of Circles

We haven’t had the chance to see a total eclipse in the continental U.S. since 1979. With the sun, moon and Earth all floating around each other in such a predictable manner, an eclipse may be rare but predictable. There are specific conditions that have to happen for any of the four types of solar eclipses. A partial eclipse only obscures part of the sun’s light and happens when the moon is not perfectly aligned between the sun and moon. An annular eclipse happens when the moon is aligned between the sun and earth but isn’t close enough for the umbra to extend to the earth’s surface and creates a shadow called the antumbra. While a total eclipse casts a complete shadow that reaches the earth and blocks all the sun’s light in a small area. There is also a hybrid eclipse where it switches between an annular and total eclipse. Even if you are not close enough to see an annular or total eclipse, you may still be able to see a partial eclipse with the help of solar eclipse glasses or light filters.

What Do I Get To See?

There are three ways to view an eclipse safely. When choosing a safe method to look at an eclipse you should take into consideration if you will be seeing an annular, partial, or total eclipse. The first method is to use solar eclipse glasses will allow you to look directly at a partial or annular eclipse and watch the entirety of a total eclipse. Make sure that everyone has their protective glasses on and remember that only when the sun’s light is completely blocked out, is it safe to look at a total eclipse with the naked eye. The second method includes special light filters available that you can affix to the end of a telescope that allow you to magnify the eclipse. This way a whole group of people can gather around and see a projection of the eclipse happening. Do not look directly into the telescope. There are also special telescopes designed for watching the sun and solar eclipses. The third method is low tech and is called a pinhole projector. You take a sheet of paper and using a pin, poke a hole in it. Now you can use a second piece of paper under the paper with a hole in it to view an image of the eclipse. Here is some more information on the solar eclipse from Forbes, as well as some advice to avoid buying bogus eclipse glasses. There are only four U.S. companies that NASA recommends to buy solar eclipse glasses from; Thousand Oaks Optical, TSE 17, Rainbow Symphony, and American Paper Optics. Make sure you buy proper eye protection and don’t get scammed. If you don’t know whether you get to see the total eclipse or just a partial eclipse, you should check out NASA’s site about the eclipse. There are useful tips on how to observe a partial eclipse safely and how to also be careful witnessing a total eclipse. Armed with all this information you are now ready to take full advantage of this opportunity to see the solar eclipse on August 21, 2017. So get together with some friends and family and make an event out of this unique occasion. Have fun and be safe.

– By Paul Arseneau

10 Ideas for End of Summer Fun

Do you need some things to do to stretch the last few weeks of summer? If you have already done all the typical summer activities like visiting the zoo, camping, going to the water park, etc., you may be asking what else is there to do? Even if the vacation fund is drained there are things to do without spending much, if any money. Doing something different, no matter how small, can make the best summertime memories.  Here are some ideas for for you to try:

1. Take a night hike – Ever consider hiking in the dark? Make sure to check the lunar calendar and the forecast first. A full moon or at least a partial moon will give you enough light to see even if your flashlight should fail. For a little more fun turn your flashlight off on purpose and see how far you can go. Don’t forget to check the forecast though, a cloudy night might put you in the dark even during a full moon. You may also want to take a device, such as your cell phone, to collect sound samples. You may be surprised by what you can hear in the night. What a fun adventure especially if you go properly prepared and keep safety at the top of your list!

1. Make homemade bug spray – Find a recipe that works for you either with oils or herbs (Find homemade recipes at www.theprairiehomestead). Have a fun time making it and have an even better time staying protected from the bugs!
2. Go night swimming – light the torches and have a relaxing swim – no sunscreen required! Better yet, enjoy the time with friends. Tips for the The Perfect Post Dusk Swim Party.
3. Make homemade ice cream – whether you use an old-fashioned hand-cranked ice cream maker or an easy to use electric one, making ice cream can turn into a fun family experience that will be remembered for years to come.
4. Make homemade root beer – Then root beer floats!

1. Feed the ducks – but don’t give them bread! Bread is not healthy for ducks and can even be harmful. But there are plenty of leftovers you can give to the ducks so you can have fun and feel good about it too! Ultimate List of Duck Treats
2. Outdoor night games for kids – playing games is fun for kids at any time but there is something special about playing outdoors at night. Some games to play: Kick the Can, Flashlight Hide and Seek, Ghost in the Graveyard.
3. Make a lemonade stand – it’s not about making money; it’s about having fun!

1. Volunteer – find a place close to home where you can give back to your community.
2. Find a drive-in movie or even better, create one in your backyard – hang up a white sheet, connect your laptop to a projector (for a fun cheap way you can make your own projector, see below).

Homemade projector

Items needed:
Small box
Magnifying glass
Tape
Cell phone
White sheet or garage door

Directions
Cut out a hole in the box the size of the magnifying glass. Put the magnifying glass in the hole and secure with tape. Place the phone in the box so that the screen faces the magnifying glass. The video should be playing upside down on the phone screen in order to project correctly. Point toward sheet or garage door to project!

Otherworldly

Sarah Doughty

I’ve been
staring up
into space
for so long
that I forgot
to look down
and take in your
otherworldly
beauty.

© Sarah Doughty

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Forward

Sarah Doughty

You aren’t
defeated,
love.
You can
keep going.

As long
as you have
breath
in your lungs,
and blood
moving through
your veins,
keep going.
You’ve got this.

© Sarah Doughty

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Challenge Yourself – Mind, Body and Soul

Welcome to the first blog post of theQuizzical magazine, I want to thank everyone who contributed their ideas and hard work since the very start. Our goal is to find stories and activities that will challenge our readers keeping in mind the three pillars of health – mind, body and soul. While activities that enhance our health fall into these three categories they quite often overlap. Ballroom dancing is a good example of this. It enhances all three at the same time. It is good for our brains because we learn new steps which are made up of a series of patterns, it is good physically because it gets us up and moving, and it can be quite social when we go to classes and dances where we can meet new people who have a common interest.

In each issue of theQuizzical magazine there are stories and activities around each of the three pillars of health. First are those that are dedicated to brain strengthening. These include activities to exercise the analytical/left brain such as word puzzles, number puzzles, brain teasers and trivia questions. Also there are activities to exercise the cognitive/right brain such as puzzles that work with a variety of shapes, colors and hidden objects, intuitive and abstract thinking, poetry, creating art, writing, and reading.

Second there are stories and activities dedicated to physical aspects of health. Included will be ideas and stories about activities for physical well-being. Just a reminder, before starting any physical activity yourself please check with your doctor.

The third aspect of health is all about enhancing the soul. Activities and stories will include such things as socializing, art and music, volunteering, and enjoying nature.

The last section (Quizzical Kids) is dedicated to the young (in age or at heart!). In this section we will highlight children’s activities including stories, games and a coloring book page. We have also included stories written by children and would like to collect more from our readers. The imagination of the young can inspire us all!

I hope that you enjoy what we have found and encourage you to send in ideas for future articles.

Until next time…
Diana