Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Wolfie, Wert, SolaMeanie, and KansasBob,

Hubby and I were finally able to visit with my family over the weekend, delayed twice since December 23rd, once by a virus that we both caught and then the MLK weekend bad weather. The visit was bittersweet, as they have been the last couple years, but never moreso than now. My mother's mental condition continues to deteriorate and my sister has acknowledged that she is on the verge of no longer being physically able to manage our mother's care at home. Your prayers would be very welcome.

I think I'm going to go have myself a good cry for a while.

BTW, if any of you happen to have sleep apnea or know someone who does, seeking a specialist is imperative. It's taken a huge toll on my family and my sister strongly believes it plays an important role in the development of Alzheimer's.

cr

Attacking the messenger.........

"I could care less, whether you "post" this on your sorry site, or not. You are an arrogant ignoramus, "approving" two others. Of course, your warm endorsement of (this person and his co-author) shows up on his blog. What shameless sluttery is this! It never ceases to amaze me, how one ignoramus (yourself) endorses two others and "presto!"; instant legitimacy! I think in your "heart of hearts" you know what a joke you are, and that your "Imprimatur" of these two anti-Christs impresses no one credible.

God have mercy on you!

Pastor (Not shown)"

Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ, the above tirade came from a pastor as a response to another Christian's review of a new book considered controversial in Christian circles. (No, that reviewer is NOT me.)

(http://branthansen.typepad.com/letters_from_kamp_krusty/2008/01/grace-in-action.html)

However if you'll notice, not a single word of rebuttal is expressed regarding the contents of the book itself, but only an attack upon those who dare to express those ideas. And, please, don't bother bringing up the Apostle Paul's angry tirade about the Jewish Christians insisting Gentiles had to become Jews (circumsized) before they could become Christians. That was an entirely different matter and Paul didn't debase the Gospel or himself by calling people names like "arrogant ignoramus" or using made up words like "sluttery". (Still I can't help thinking that if Paul had even the slightest inkling at the time that his letters would someday become CANON, that he'd have expressed himself a little more carefully on that particular topic.)

The reason I bring this topic up is because I find this line of attack extremely worldly and needing of repentance. I see this injustice used frequently against politcal figures and I find it even more disturbing when Christians use it against each other. Jesus said we had to make a choice, Him or the world and also made it clear that using worldly means in the attempt to bring about spiritual ends will not work. While I find this behavior in a pastor particularly reprehensible, all of us need be on guard against using it ourselves against anyone, whether Christian or non-Christian......and may God have mercy on those who do.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Hope for those Affected by Alzheimer's

From Yahoo Health News...

Arthritis drug may ease dementia: case-report
1 hour, 3 minutes ago

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In a new report, U.S. researchers describe the improvement in brain function that occurred in a patient with Alzheimer's disease just minutes after receiving an injection in the spine of the arthritis drug Enbrel (also known as etanercept).

For instance, just prior to treatment the patient was agitated and could not name the state. Ten minutes after treatment, he appeared calmer, more attentive, less frustrated and was able to correctly name the state. Further improvements in mental functioning, memory, and other cognitive parameters were noted at 2 hours.

Dr. Edward L. Tobinick, from the University of California at Los Angeles, and Dr. Hyman Gross, from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, describe the case in the Journal of Neuroinflammation.
Their observations are consistent with a study they conducted in 2006, in which injection of etanercept given weekly over 6 months led to significant improvements in mental function in a group of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

In that initial study, the protocol approved by the institutional review board called for monthly cognitive testing. However, the researchers noticed that cognition often seemed to improve just minutes after treatment, which led them to their current study.

Consistent with their earlier observations, etanercept injection rapidly improved cognition
Studies have suggested that a protein involved in inflammation known as TNF-alpha is involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease, the investigators note. Etanercept blocks this protein. Further studies looking at the effects of TNF-alpha blockers on symptoms of dementia are warranted, the researchers conclude.

SOURCE: Journal of Neuroinflammation 2008.