Tuesday, March 27, 2007

When Animals Attack


Scorpions - 12 species in Costa Rica, yet none are poisonous....Thank God.


This kind was in my bedroom!


Monday, March 26, 2007

Where Were You During World Cup?



Landon Donovan hat-trick gives USA 3-1 win over Ecuador
Florida, March 26: Landon Donovan scored a hat-trick as the United States beat Ecuador 3-1 in a friendly international in Tampa, Florida on Sunday. Felipe Caicedo equalised for Ecuador after Donovan opened the scoring in the first minute of the game.Two more goals for Donovan in the second half gave the striker the second hat-trick of his career. The USA hosted Ecuador in a friendly international on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Tampa, Florida.Over 31,000 fans turned up at the Raymond James Stadium.They had barely had time to find their seats before Landon Donovan put the US ahead with a superb strike from the edge of the area, after Ivan Hurtado's header had fallen kindly.Later in the first half, Tim Howard did well to save from Carlos Tenorio.But Ecuador were on level terms soon after.In the 11th minute, Felipe Caicedo held off the attentions of the USA's defenders before bundling the ball over Howard and into the net.The teams went into half-time at 1-1. In the 66th minute, Donovan put the US ahead once again after being put clear by Brian Ching.And less than a minute later, Donovan fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner to complete a superb hat-trick and give the USA a 3-1 victory. It was the second hat-trick of Donovan's career.The 25 year-old forward scored four goals against Cuba during the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup.He has now scored 30 international goals.Bureau Report

Mas Y Mas


For People In The Know


Guess where?

Blood Clots Suck

Thrombus
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Blood clot diagram.
A thrombus, or blood clot, is the final product of the blood coagulation step in hemostasis. It is achieved via the aggregation of platelets that form a platelet plug, and the activation of the humoral coagulation system (i.e. clotting factors). A thrombus is physiologic in cases of injury, but pathologic in case of thrombosis.
Specifically, a thrombus is a blood clot in an intact blood vessel. A thrombus in a large blood vessel will decrease blood flow through that vessel. In a small blood vessel, blood flow may be completely cut-off resulting in the death of tissue supplied by that vessel. If a thrombus dislodges and becomes free-floating, it is an embolus.
Some of the conditions in which blood clots develop include atrial fibrillation (a form of cardiac arrhythmia), heart valve replacement, a recent heart attack, extended periods of inactivity (see deep venous thrombosis), and genetic or disease-related deficiencies in the blood's clotting abilities.
Preventing blood clots reduces the risk of stroke, heart attack and pulmonary embolism. Heparin and warfarin are often used to inhibit the formation and growth of existing blood clots, thereby allowing the body to shrink and dissolve the blood clots through normal methods (see anticoagulant).
A thrombus differs from a hematoma by:
Having high hematocrit
Being non-laminar
Being soft and friable
Having an absence of circulation
Virchow's Triad describes the conditions necessary for thrombus formation:
Changes in vessel wall morphology (e.g. trauma, atheroma)
Changes in blood flow through the vessel (e.g. valvulitis, aneurysm)
Changes in blood composition (e.g. leukaemia, hypercoagulability disorders)
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) involves widespread microthrombi formation throughout the majority of the blood vessels. This is due to excessive consumption of coagulation factors and fibrinolysis using all of the body's available platelets and clotting factors. The end result is ischaemic necrosis of the affected tissue/organs and spontaneous bleeding due to the lack of clotting factors. Causes are septicaemia, acute leukaemia, shock, snake bites or severe trauma. Treatment involves the use of fresh, frozen plasma to restore the level of clotting factors in the blood.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Bad Luck Continues

As if not being able to close on a house in 4 months wasn't bad enough....

The architects we use for our project invited me to play soccer last night....nobody great, just a group of guys that rents an hour each wednesday to stay in shape. 10 minutes into it and feeling really good about everything the carpet slipped from underneath the concrete and I rolled my ankle over. Broke my foot in 3 places. Of course I kept playing, just hung in back and even played in goal, but I couldnt plant on my right foot at all. I iced all night and after not being able to walk to the counter to get coffee this am, I had my driver take me to the ER. I have an ankle high cast for at least 3 weeks. It sucks.