Come on. This is not HN material. What's next? Lolcats?
I think a fair question is what kind of topic would you classify as "HN material", be a bit specific if you can.
Cat Parasite Affects Everything We Feel and Do
31–40 of 49 posts
Re: Cat Parasite Affects Everything We Feel and Do
#32That's why pregnant women are told to stay away from cats during term
Not cats, but cat feces. (i.e. she shouldn't be changing her cat's -- or cats' -- litter box)
Re: Cat Parasite Affects Everything We Feel and Do
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
Firstly it's a very old discovery, just the effects of latent toxoplasmosis are becoming more newsworthy in tabloids and fluff pieces, traditionally the whole encephalitis was what people worried about. Toxoplasmosis' only agreed upon (and still alleged) effect is a decrease in neophilia, which is linked to monoamine oxidase A a product of the so called 'warrior gene' that is far more prevalent in society than toxopl…
I had toxoplasmosis when I was 12. It made my vision cloudy for a day or so until I was pumped full of prednisone to fight it. I still have a tiny blind spot in my eye from it, but (to my knowledge) no other long-term effects. Sidenote: I had an eye exam the other day and the doctor could no longer recognize it as toxo - he thought it was histo, which is apparently something you get from chickens.
It's good to hear that your only lasting effect is a tiny blind spot; can you yourself observe it, or is it only noticeable on an eye exam?
Histoplasmosis IIRC is caused by a fungus spore. It's common in the ground everywhere, however in certain areas it's a lot more prevalent for some reason, I believe the states surrounding the Ohio and Mississippi rivers are the main place in North America. It's apparently on 80% of peoples skin in these areas, which is similar to ringworm (another fungus) in most people. However dirt infused with bird or bat droppings are a hotbed, so chicken litter of infected chickens is the common source for most humans. The only time fungi usually cause problems is when they get out of control, and dealing with infected guano is probably a good bet. IIRC it's usually an inhaled infection (causes something like pneumonia) but sometimes, often children, accidentally rub it into their eyes.
I had a severe outbreak of ringworm, my doctor told me it was highly contagious and I likely caught it from my dog. My dog was clean and when I visited a dermatologist he told me that because I have psoriasis the ringworm fungus basically struck it lucky and got through the skin. Incidentally the ringworm 'cured' my psoriasis (it used to cover about 20% of my torso and limbs, now I don't have a single patch).
Re: Cat Parasite Affects Everything We Feel and Do
#34Earlier quoted context omitted.
Very interesting, but in some ways contradictory to what I've read elsewhere, which includes: (1) the effect on humans might be different for men vs. women (with one becoming more withdrawn, and the other more reckless); and (2) that there's no treatment sure to reach latent cysts, and those that have the best chance have strong negative side effects. In particular, I've never heard that having a latent infection is…
There's been no scientficially-verifiable studies done on the actual behavioural effects of toxoplasmosis, either on people as a whole or on individual sexes. The behaviours most commonly noted in infected people is decreased jealousy in males and decreased frigidity in females; anything beyond these are largely debated and are essentially wild speculation. The biggest medical concern for infection is in women, no ev…
Great info provided in an authoritative, confidence-inspiring tone and level of detail... but if I wanted to read this from a source other than an pseudonymous thread commenter, what references do you recommend? (Is this from medical journals? Are you a practicing doctor or researcher in this field?)
Re: Cat Parasite Affects Everything We Feel and Do
#35This parasite is indeed real and widespread, and the reason you don't notice its effects in others is because its effects are rather minor, resulting from small brain infections and increased dopamine at certain sites (I had no luck pinpointing the location of these, unfortunately). The most agreed-upon effect appears to be that the parasite results in decreased neophilia. What a sensationalist story like this one wi…
So, the cat killed curiosity?
Re: Cat Parasite Affects Everything We Feel and Do
#36'Research has shown that women who are infected with the parasite tend to be warm, outgoing and attentive to others, while infected men tend to be less intelligent and probably a bit boring. But both men and women who are infected are more prone to feeling guilty and insecure.' Although I do not doubt the infection rates I am sceptical about the conclusions. Any woman that does not LOVE cats is obviously not warm and…
Anyway I love cats since I was a kid and I am male! Worth the infection if I have it and perhaps the reason that so far I have not catch AIDS!
I like cats too, but I feel like I am missing something here. How did you get from "I love cats" to not getting AIDS?
Re: Cat Parasite Affects Everything We Feel and Do
#37This parasite is indeed real and widespread, and the reason you don't notice its effects in others is because its effects are rather minor, resulting from small brain infections and increased dopamine at certain sites (I had no luck pinpointing the location of these, unfortunately). The most agreed-upon effect appears to be that the parasite results in decreased neophilia. What a sensationalist story like this one wi…
How do I know whether I am infected or not?
Re: Cat Parasite Affects Everything We Feel and Do
#38My friend who's a 24 year old (extremely cute) female, who eats your Standard American Diet (but on the healthy side), took a 40 day juice fast about a year ago.
After about day 30, she passed a huge ball of worms in her stool. Let me emphasize "huge". Like, a babies fist. Needless to say, she had some parasites.
I now fear the juice fast... and, in a weird way... her :)
Re: Cat Parasite Affects Everything We Feel and Do
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
There's been no scientficially-verifiable studies done on the actual behavioural effects of toxoplasmosis, either on people as a whole or on individual sexes. The behaviours most commonly noted in infected people is decreased jealousy in males and decreased frigidity in females; anything beyond these are largely debated and are essentially wild speculation. The biggest medical concern for infection is in women, no ev…
Great info provided in an authoritative, confidence-inspiring tone and level of detail... but if I wanted to read this from a source other than an pseudonymous thread commenter, what references do you recommend? (Is this from medical journals? Are you a practicing doctor or researcher in this field?)
I've studied psychology, sociology and some medical care and am in no way a licensed professional (I'm purely debating on what I know, there are likely doctors far more knowledgeable on this subject, but as yet there have been no scientific studies on the behaviour effects, so anything other than infection prevalence and the acute symptoms of toxoplasmosis are wild speculation anyway), so I got into reading journals on them all (plus magazines like New Scientist), so personally I'd recommend journals if you can. The Lancet (which is essentially the medical journal in the UK) is a quality journal; I know they had an article on prenatal toxoplasmosis treatment, a good one IIRC, in the first half of 2007.
Other than that, I'd say a quality medical dictionary or an excellent anatomy textbook like Gray's Anatomy wouldn't do you harm for the inquisitive mind. There are lots of texts out there, once you get acquainted with some it becomes easier to find others.
I personally believe you're better of understanding your body and medicine, because if you ever get sick you're stuck relying on another human being and not a living embodiment of scientific facts. You're never going to know something doesn't sound right, if you don't know what your doctor is talking about. I'd also add, always get a second opinion for even moderate care issues (if you can, I live in Canada and grew up in the UK with Universal Healthcare, I'm aware this isn't necessarily practical for everyone in the US who may read this), or at least find and discuss your medical concerns with others, it can sometimes help. I realised my psoriasis wasn't eczema (which I was originally diagnosed with) when I noticed the difference between mine and all the other kids, like I've said elsewhere it spread to 20% of my body because I was told it was benign. I knew a girl with 70% coverage because she'd been misdiagnosed; a single flare-up of her 'eczema' caused her to breakout over nearly her entire torso and needed hospitalization for about a month to get it under control.
Re: Cat Parasite Affects Everything We Feel and Do
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
I had toxoplasmosis when I was 12. It made my vision cloudy for a day or so until I was pumped full of prednisone to fight it. I still have a tiny blind spot in my eye from it, but (to my knowledge) no other long-term effects. Sidenote: I had an eye exam the other day and the doctor could no longer recognize it as toxo - he thought it was histo, which is apparently something you get from chickens.
It's good to hear that your only lasting effect is a tiny blind spot; can you yourself observe it, or is it only noticeable on an eye exam? Histoplasmosis IIRC is caused by a fungus spore. It's common in the ground everywhere, however in certain areas it's a lot more prevalent for some reason, I believe the states surrounding the Ohio and Mississippi rivers are the main place in North America. It's apparently on 80%…
You say you have medical knowledge. Regarding your claim that the ringworm cured your psoriasis. I find that a very exciting claim, if true. There are other cases of people using parasites to cure illness.
Is anybody using ringworm as a psoriasis treatment?