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We all know how the story of chocolate goes. In all honesty, I doubt that many are too bothered by the history of chocolate. What counts is that we have this wonderful thing we can turn to in times of craving need.
I doubt that even the strongest-willed of persons can decline a bite of that delectable chocolate-covered strawberry you see up there! But there is more to chocolate than we normally know. There is more to chocolate than a hot drink, a huge bar, or even a chocolate chip cookie. This week, it is Chocolate Week in UK, but even if you are nowhere near there, you do not need an excuse to join them in celebrating the wonder that is chocolate! Here are some recipes that will give you a whole new appreciation for chocolate.
I don’t know about you, but I think that any time is the perfect time to eat chocolate! These recipes are going to rock your chocolate-loving world no matter what time of the day you make them.
Fancy a bite of this? Who wouldn’t???
This scrumptious-looking beauty has an even yummier name: Dark Chocolate Tart With Bacon and Whipped Almond Pastry Cream. Seriously, they got me at chocolate and bacon.
In spite of the fact that molten chocolate cakes have become rather common, I feel compelled to include them in this post. I am sure you understand why. There are many variations, but I have two suggestions that are not exactly molten chocolate cakes, but they might just give you more gastronomic pleasure.
First up, we have Chocolate Liqueur Souffles. Don’t be turned off by the “souffle” label. The result is well worth the effort. Speaking of souffles, if you like chocolate and mint (After Eight!), you will like this Chocolate Mint Souffles recipe as well.
The second option: Chocolate Fondant Rumbas. You just might find your guests dancing with delight after you serve them these!
White Chocolate Chunk Blonde Brownies – now say that three times faster!
A mug of steaming hot chocolate never fails to make one feel better. If you like downing a good chocolate drink, you might as well give it a little twist.
Not only does this Après-Ski Holiday Hot Chocolate With Brandy and Cream recipe have a very nice name, but it does make one want to go skiing just so you can wrap one’s freezing hands around that mug. Of course, the skiing is not mandatory. Once you have had a sip of this chocolate drink, though, making it on a regular basis might become mandatory!
How about adding a Christmas feel? A mug of this Eggnog Hot Chocolate may not be enough for you. For best results, don’t opt out on the coffee liqueur. Using cinnamon or peppermint – whichever you prefer – sticks as garnish also adds to the appeal of this drink.
Now for even more grown up fun – chocolate drinks that can give you the slightest of buzzes. If you are not a brandy person, you might want to use vodka instead. I still remember the first time I had a chocolate-vodka-coffee mixture…whew!
I found this recipe for Sludgy Chocolate Martini, which is not exactly what I had, but the “sludgy” just got me. I don’t know why, but sludgy and chocolate just seem to be perfect bedfellows, don’t you think?
Also, it is a great idea to serve this drink on Halloween. Not only do you have something that matches the theme – you also have a drink that will bring out smiles in your guests.
Just so you know, the sludgy recipe calls for peanut butter, so if that doesn’t work for you, here is an alternative: Morta De Chocolata Gelatini. Yes, it does translate to Death by Chocolate Martini. What more can you ask for in a drink?
In case it is white chocolate you want to sip, let me throw in a recipe for White Chocolate Martini. This recipe calls for Godiva chocolate liqueur, no less, so you can expect it to be delicious.
For most people, when chocolate is mentioned, it is normally associated with any but the main course. Of course, if you watch cooking shows, you will already know that chocolate can be used for anything. And I mean anything.
Have you ever thought about combining chicken and chocolate? Those two come together in this lovely dish called Chicken Mole. Mole is a popular Mexican sauce which has many variations. The most used version, perhaps, is this dark brown sauce which uses chocolate. In addition to chocolate, chili and other spices are used to make mole. Chocolate, chili, and other spices. You really can’t go wrong with that combination, can you? That being said, you have to try it to believe how good it tastes!
If you are sick and tired of chicken and you still want to try mole, here’s an alternative: Slow Cooker Mole-Style Pulled Pork. This recipe makes use of the slow cooker, which takes the pork to a whole new level.
Chicken and pork are not the only kinds of meat that can be paired with chocolate. I would be very hard pressed to decline a taste of this Beef & Stout Stew with Chocolatier Sauce. From the ingredients list, two things shout out at me: stout (Guinness!) and chocolate. Yum!
One last lip-smacking recipe before we end: Pepper-Crusted Beef Tenderloin with Chocolate-Port Sauce. Port and chocolate. I’m sold.
Just to make it more fun, here is a menu I have created. Yes, it’s all about chocolate. Enjoy!


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In a statement released earlier this month, the national carrier announced that it will increase its frequency on non-stop flights between the Ghanaian capital Accra’s Kotoka International Airport and Washington DC’s Dulles International Airport to five days a week.
‘SAA continues to see growing demand for our nonstop Accra service and this increase in our frequency will give our business and leisure customers more options.
‘Our service between Accra and Washington-Dulles has been a resounding success from its inception in 2015 and we are very pleased to further develop the route with the introduction of a fifth weekly flight,’ said Todd Neuman, SAA’s regional general manager for North America.
SAA offers the only non-stop flight between Ghana and Washington DC and offers travellers convenient connections to and from over 100 cities across the US and Canada through its Star Alliance partner, United Airlines via Washington, DC-Dulles.
In addition, SAA will continue to operate flights between Washington DC-Dulles and Dakar, Senegal and onwards to Johannesburg, two days per week, providing service on the only wide-body aircraft flying nonstop between the US and Senegal.

industry_corpus2: Transportation


text:
I have lavender plant , but it is not in nice shape, it looks like somebody stand on it, how to solve this problem, shall I add soil on the stem to become more fix to the earth?
well if your lavander isnt going to be stould on again it should sort itself out.
If its older than five years and hasn't been clipped to shape twice a year, bin it - dig it up and replace it with another, and this time, clip it over in about June, when the main flush of flowers is finished, taking a little leaf as well, then again in roughly end of August or early September, again when the flowering is more or less over. Lavender cannot be cut into old wood, and will not appreciate soil being piled around its woody stems, it will rot.

industry_corpus2: Agriculture & Fisheries


text:
EL BAILE is a Loading... luxury yacht, built by Sangermani and delivered in 1998. Her top speed is 12.0kn and her power comes from a 405.0hp MAN D2866LE diesel engine. She can accommodate up to 8 people with 4 crew members waiting on their every need.
She was designed by Farr Yacht Design, and the interior design was created by Nauta Yachts.

industry_corpus2: Manufacturing


text:
This is a poll about upgrading a budget system. What path is the best one to increase sound quality?
1. In simple terms, how exactly does a tractrix differ from an exponential horn in its design? 2. Also, what might be expected if the exponential horn from an earlier Heritage series driver were switched out with an equivalent Traxtrix version? From a listener's point of view, are all frequencies equally affected? (I'm particularly interested in hearing from anyone who has experienced this). 3. Anything else of interest?
I am planning to upgrade my unmolested 1978 Khorns in the next week or so. I want to document the changes in a thread along with listening impressions. I'd like to use this thread for some suggestions from you Klipschites, then start a new thread for the actual changes. I have some questions, then I'd like to listen to your ideas. Comment on or critique anything you want. I took out all the other speakers in the living room weeks ago to get used to the the Khorn sound in Stereo mode. My other choice would be Pure Audio, meaning no audio processing by the Onk AVR. Onkyo TX-NR 717, bought in 2014. The 717 has basic Audyssey, 3 listening positions. It will set distances and trim level relative to reference, which usually means -12 db. I have disabled Audyssey and set both L/R to 0 trim. I could re-run Audyssey to get some baseline info. The Upgrade: I will be getting some Crites A/4500 crossovers and I will pull the Type AA. This means I can't use the stock K-77's. I will using some SEOS 12" horns and Denovo DNA-360 compression drivers I already had from another project. This will not be the same as a standard Crites A/4500 with the usual CT-120 or CT-125 tweeters. I don't want to change two variables at one time but I don't think I have much choice. Your opinions? I would like to put the new horn on the tophat, then move it front to back to experiment with some time alignment. And finally I was wanting to try putting some damping materials on the tophat to see if I could hear difference in reflection by using carpet, towel, maybe some foam sheets. Other suggestions?

industry_corpus2: Computing & Telecommunications


text: Arts Alive Wales is an educational arts charity based in Crickhowell. We are driven by a passion for using the arts to engage, inspire and enhance the quality of life of people in our local communities. We work across Mid and South East Wales with professional artists to provide opportunities for active participation in the arts, particularly for children, young people and vulnerable groups.

industry_corpus2: Subject Education


text:
"We didn´t inherit Earth from our parents, we´ve only borrowed it from our children"
Concerning renewable energy sources the Eastern Styria region can be looked as a role model. Many innovative and lasting technologies are used here in practice in order to provide a regionally based energy supply.
We offer the possibility to visit over 100 of those locations and get to know the different technologies in practice. Thereby you´ll meet courageous and optimistic people, who have taken responsibility and can surely give you some good advice for your own project! We adress all target groups to introduce the world of renewable energy, pupils up to experts!

industry_corpus2: Power & Energy


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If you are contacted by the police and asked to attend the police station to be questioned, call our police station solicitors so that we can assist you throughout the process on 0203 816 1098. If you have already been questioned without a solicitor but are required to go back to the police station at a later date, we can still help you. For those arrested and taken to the police station unexpectedly, they will be offered the services of a solicitor when they arrive at the police station. You have the right to use a solicitor of your choice and can ask the police to contact Stephensons for you.
We can also sometimes assist when asked to do so by friends or family of someone who has been unexpectedly arrested and taken to the police station.
When a person is questioned at a police station about a criminal offence - whether they have been arrested or are 'helping the police with enquiries' as a volunteer - it can be one of the most frightening and distressing experiences they are likely to have. It does not matter whether the investigation appears to be for a trivial or a serious matter.
When under stress, people make mistakes. This is all too often the case when being questioned by the police in a formal investigation. Something said can be misinterpreted, not said clearly enough, be ambiguous or only half the explanation. Sometimes what is said can be completely wrong but not said dishonestly. The problems created at this critical stage of any criminal case can often be very damaging much later on at any trial. What may have been said mistakenly in a moment of stress and confusion will simply look like a lie or an inconsistent account in the calm of a court room.
Anyone questioned at the police station has a number of rights and protections. Vulnerable or young people can be supported by another person known as an appropriate adult. This might be a carer, friend or parent. Their role is to ensure understanding and protect the welfare needs of the suspect being questioned.
Any interview at the police station will result in a record of what is said and done being made. Interviews are recorded. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 describes an interview as the questioning of a suspect as to their involvement or suspected involvement in an offence. The purpose of the interview will be to gather evidence by way of questioning and the answers made to those questions can be used as “evidence” as part of the case against the individual. The evidence might be a confession or it might be something said that is used to show to a court that what had been said proved to be false and referred to in court.
Whatever the allegation or the reason for being questioned, whatever the case - serious or minor, this stage of any criminal case is likely to be the most important. Every individual generally has the right to consult with a solicitor or a Police Station Accredited Adviser before they are formally questioned.
The job of the lawyer is to gather as much information about the investigation as is possible. This will allow for a discussion to take place in private between the lawyer and the client about what is being alleged and what the relevant legal issues may be. This assistance is as important as the formal interview as it will allow the client to gather their thoughts and not be taken by surprise when questioned. The lawyer will advise on the options available. Sometimes the advice might be to make 'no comment' to the questions. Everyone has the right to say nothing when questioned by the police. However, this option has to be considered carefully as the law allows a court to take into account a failure to answer questions and it may ultimately be used against the individual in any subsequent trial. These decisions involve consideration of complex legal and tactical issues that requires the assistance of a properly experienced and expert lawyer.
Our criminal defence solicitors have extensive experience in representing individuals at the police station, with a large team of lawyers exclusively dedicated to this work. It is also the case that the service is provided free of charge to the individual as the entitlement to free advice and assistance at the police station is provided through our contracts with the Legal Aid Agency. This covers both attendance for interview but also other stages in the investigation process including assistance in identification procedures and advice on the administration of cautions.

industry_corpus2: Law & Justice


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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is one of the specialised agencies of the United Nations. It is responsible for coordinating international cooperation in education, science, culture and communication.
and can enjoy full freedom of expression which is the basis of democracy, development and human dignity.
The UK government contributes to UNESCO and there is an office in London to support that contribution and bring benefits to the UK.
There are UNESCO Sites and Experts around the UK. For example in 2014 the UNESCO UNITWIN Network in Humanitarian Engineering and Computing was established at Coventry University to place cultural diversity and understanding at the heart of engineering and computing education.


text:
Use tactics and teamwork in a new kind of immersive warfare.
unique skills and gadgets to your advantage.
Go to war in the comfort of your home.
Zero Killed ©2018 Ignibit S.A. Zero Killed and the Zero Killed logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Ignibit S.A. in the U.S. and/or other countries.
Steam ©2017 Valve Corporation. Steam and the Steam logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Valve Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.

industry_corpus2: Gaming


text: Need something to write on? It is as simple as that. MNP has a large selection of custom printed jotters, folios, journals, notebooks and more... all printed with your logo and message and shipped quickly to your door. Most of our promo products ship from with either Toronto or Montreal making it easy and quick for you to look good!


text:
Eric and Arthur check in from the scouting combine in Indianapolis with updates on some of the week's early winners (Saquon Barkley) and losers (Orlando Brown) and a discussion on the polarizing QB class.
Our podcast is sponsored by Lootcrate. Get great gamer/geek gear and more, and save $3 on your first box by using our promo code 'shaw' at www.lootcrate.com/shaw.

industry_corpus2: Sports


text:
Click the button below to add the Vapourtec SF-10 Smooth Flow Chemically Resistant Peristaltic Pump to your wish list.
When you need to deliver liquid in a steady and smooth flow, you need the Vapourtec SF-10 peristaltic laboratory pump.
Intended for general laboratory use, the SF-10 is a highly chemically resistant peristaltic laboratory pump capable of delivering smooth flow at up to 10 bar pressure. Operating modes covered include; constant flow rate, ramping flow rate, volume dosing, pressure controller and gas delivery.
The versatility of the SF-10 laboratory pump has opened up a host of uses including precise reagent delivery into batch reactors, control of gas delivery for small scale batch reactions or degassing operations, chemical sampling from batch reactors, controlled delivery of reagents for thin film evaporation or spray drying processes and precise back pressure control for liquid, liquid-gas or liquid-light slurry systems.
The self priming SF-10 laboratory pump delivers a high level of chemical compatibility in flow rates ranging from 0.02 mL/min to 10 mL/min.
The innovative design has created an extremely versatile product enabling the pumping of media ranging from light slurries to gases and offering smooth output flow in combination with pressures up to 10 bar.
What makes the Vapourtec SF-10 different from standard peristaltic pumps?
A standard peristaltic pump runs at a steady rotational speed whereas the SF-10 does not. The exact rotational speed profile is complex and is a patented function of the flow rate, rotor position and pressure. The result of this advanced development is total simplicity for the user.
Pressure measurement and indication, user selectable over pressure trip, self priming function.

industry_corpus2: Technology & Research


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Pictured: The Big South Fork River at the O&W Bridge in the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area. Photo: Sarah Dunlap.
A combination of warmer-than-average temperatures and other environmental factors have led to a later-than-usual foliage season across much of the eastern United States — including here at home on the northern Cumberland Plateau.
Even as the calendar flips from October to November, fall colors are still at their peak from the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area to the Cumberland Mountains and all points in between.
That means more time for local residents to get out and enjoy the scenes that nature conjures up this time of year . . . and we don’t have to travel far from home to find them.
There are plenty of highways and byways throughout the plateau region that lead to perfect vantage points for foliage-viewing, from Lookout Mountain to Fall Creek Falls to our very own Big South Fork.
The Cumberland Plateau is often overlooked when it comes to its autumn colors. You won’t find many scenes from the northern plateau on wall calendars or computer desktops, while places like the Great Smoky Mountains, the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Alleghenies and the Taconics steal the show. But what you’ll find here is no less breath-taking.
For the next couple of weeks, conditions will be perfect for leaf-peepers across the northern plateau region. And there are a number of places well-suited to take in the colors from above.
■ Sunset Overlook: After departing the trailhead on East Rim Overlook Road near the BSF headquarters, the Sunset Overlook trail winds along mostly flat terrain for 1.3 miles before emerging on the edge of the gorge. As the National Park Service describes on its website, “the hike out is not remarkable, but the view definitely is.” The Leatherwood Ford bridge is visible downstream, and the mouth of North White Oak Creek is visible upstream.
■ Honey Creek Overlook: Honey Creek is the first of the easily-accessible overlooks offering picture-perfect fall scenes. Hikers wanting more of an adventure can hike the surrounding Honey Creek Loop Trail (formerly the Pocket Wilderness), the most strenuous hike in all of the BSF (5.5 miles). Most folks choose to drive directly to the overlook, which is protected and is handicap-accessible. The overlook, just a stone’s throw from the Scott County Airport as the eagle flies, offers views up and down some of the wildest portions of the BSF River, just south of the confluence. The overlook and trailhead are accessible via Honey Creek Road and Burnt Mill Ford in Robbins.
■ East Rim Overlook: It’s accessibility and location make East Rim one of the most-visited locations in the national park. Just off S.R. 297 near the park headquarters at Leatherwood, the view from East Rim is no less remarkable than any other in the park . . . in fact, it far surpasses most. For a place to snap some quick photos on a Sunday afternoon at the height of autumn, it’s hard to beat East Rim.
The preceding article originally appeared in the November 1, 2018 edition of the Independent Herald. It is reprinted by permission.

industry_corpus2: Travel & Geography


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Buspar or buspirone is used as an anti-anxiety medication. It is considered by many to have a low risk of addiction. Most believe it can be very effective. However, this is not the whole truth. Like many prescription drugs, it is still misused and abused. It is important to educate yourself if you or a loved one use buspirone. An understanding of this drug can help lower the chance of addiction.
Buspirone hydrochloride is the generic form of Buspar. The FDA classifies it as an anxiolytic. It is not related to benzodiazepines or barbiturates. This medication is prescribed to treat symptoms of severe anxiety. Sometimes, it is used for patients suffering from both anxiety and depression. Experts are not sure exactly how it works. They believe it affects certain chemicals in the brain. The chemicals serotonin and dopamine are most likely. These would explain buspirone’s anti-anxiety effects.
Often, it’s given to patients who have a hard time coping with life. Buspar is said to help clear the mind and ease worried thoughts. Meant to encourage relaxation, it is also supposed to improve jitters and irritability. Sleeping issues, sweating, and a pounding heartbeat may get better, as well. It comes in a white tablet form that can be split in half. The tablets come in 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, and 30 mg. Usually, they are meant to be taken 2 or 3 times a day.
Reports on whether Buspar can be abused show different opinions. Some say that because it isn’t a benzodiazepine, addiction shouldn’t be concern. Other doctors and experts disagree. They claim that the mild sedation it causes can be habit forming.
Internet drug forums show a lot of interest in buspirone. Many wonder if it is similar to Xanax. Some who try it believe it has no recreational value. Others have a different experience. Those who favor it say the high lasts around 30 minutes. The effects seem to vary, however. A number of people describe feeling sedated. Different users say the buzz is similar to speed.
Why Is This Drug Abused?
Unlike medications such as Xanax, Buspar doesn’t cause feelings of euphoria. In that case, why abuse it? The sedative effects of this drug are a major reason. Buspirone abuse can result in a state of extreme sedation. People coping with anxiety might induce this by taking large doses at a time. Users become more and more sedated as doses grow higher. This provides temporary, but dangerous relief from their symptoms.
Buspirone abuse may also occur in users trying to ease symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Studies have shown that the drug can be effective for this purpose. Many medications work well when used for off-label reasons. However, trying this should never be decided on your own. It is very important to consult a doctor first. Still, some see Buspar as a cheap way to deal with withdrawal symptoms. This sort of self-medication is common among substance abusers.
Are Buspar and Xanax the Same Thing?
Buspirone and Xanax are both used to treat anxiety. They are prescribed to patients suffering from various anxiety disorders. However, these are very different drugs. Buspar is an anxiolytic medication and Xanax is a benzodiazepine. Doctors consider benzodiazepines to be quite addictive. On the other hand, anxiolytics are thought to be lower-risk.
Often, medications like Buspar are prescribed to people with a history of addiction. Many doctors will refuse to give benzodiazepines in such situations. Also, doctors tend to be less comfortable prescribing Xanax for long-term use. For example, Buspar and similar drugs should be taken daily. Xanax is often prescribed to be taken as-needed. For this reason, it is frequently used to treat panic attacks.
Buspar is less habit-forming than Xanax. However, it also takes longer to work. The effects may wear off over time as well.
Xanax works very quickly. Still, it is more likely to cause withdrawal symptoms. It is also prone to interacting with other medications.
Buspar is not very effective in treating short-term anxiety and panic attacks. Xanax usually works well to relieve symptoms of these conditions.
Xanax users report more issues with memory problems, dizziness, drowsiness and confusion.
Buspar is a better choice for people with liver problems. This is because Xanax is processed by the liver. As a result, the organ is put under extra stress.
Xanax is available in pill, extended release, dissolving tablet, and liquid form. BuSpar is only available in pill form. They can both be bought as a generic.
Another reason why Buspar may be abused is the feeling it gives when combined with alcohol. This combination is said to create an intense “high”or drunken state. Together, the effects are said to be better than either substance by itself. Users can become extremely intoxicated after using large amounts of both.
Alcohol greatly increases the sedative effects of buspirone. Likewise, this medication also makes alcohol more potent. The usual symptoms of drinking can become heightened. Mixing the two may also cause a person to get drunk very quickly. Even someone with a high tolerance might begin to feel overwhelmed.
Combining prescription medications with alcohol is always dangerous. Severe cases of buspirone and alcohol abuse may lead to an overdose, coma, or death. Such situations can be easily avoided through education. It’s important to understand how Buspar and alcohol affect the body. Even without drinking excessively, there could be terrible consequences.
Patients prescribed Buspar usually begin with a dose of 7.5 mg, twice a day. Maximum dosage should not exceed 60 mg per day. A quick Google search shows that recreational users suggest taking between 5 – 20 mg at a time. It depends on the person and their tolerance level.
Additional doses are often taken throughout the day. These are meant to maintain the high. Some take the pills whole. Others like to “parachute” them. Parachuting is done using crushed pills. The powder is wrapped inside tissue paper and swallowed. This is said to result in a faster, stronger high.
Many choose to snort buspirone. This is done by grinding or crushing pills into a fine powder. The powder is inhaled through the nose. Snorting is also said to cause a fast and intense high. It allows the drug to enter the bloodstream very quickly. However, there is a large downside. This method can make forming a habit more likely. Also, some people who have tried snorting Buspar advise against it. Many report experiencing “brain zaps”. They say this feels like multiple electric shocks to the brain.
What Are the Possible Side Effects of Buspar Abuse?
The side effects of buspirone are made even worse when this drug is abused. Additional symptoms caused by abuse include hallucinations, memory loss and cognitive impairment.
Can Someone Become Addicted to Buspar?
The short answer is yes, they can. Even patients using it as prescribed can become addicted. Unlike benzodiazepines like Xanax, Buspar doesn’t have an immediate effect on anxiety. Patients may have to wait several weeks before seeing an improvement. Often, many will have to switch to a higher dose.
With continued use, small amounts of the chemicals in buspirone will remain in the body. Over time, these chemicals begin to build up. As a result, long-term users can develop a tolerance to the medication. If a patient using Buspar suddenly stops, they may experience withdrawal symptoms. This means that they have become physically dependent on it. Abusing the drug makes this even more likely.
A psychological dependence is also possible. Buspirone is generally used to help patients deal with everyday life. If it works for them, the relief can be life-changing. Patients may become unable to function without it. Unfortunately, a tolerance can also make the effects of Buspar less noticeable over time. This can lead to self-medicating with larger doses than prescribed. It can also cause users to abuse other drugs in order to cope.
Suddenly discontinuing this medication can result in difficult withdrawal symptoms. This is the result of a physical dependence. It can be incredibly tough to overcome. Those who take buspirone may have a very hard time stopping. Some may decide to continue with it even when they don’t want to.
The withdrawal process can be very painful. Serious damage to the body is possible without medical supervision. Internal organs can even come to permanent harm. Remember, attempting to withdraw on your own is never necessary. There are always people who are willing to help. In the long run, it is much safer to accept assistance.
Are You Addicted to Buspar?
You may not be sure if you’ve reached the stage of addiction. It may help to consider the common physical and psychological signs.
What Are the Treatment Options for a Buspar Addiction?
Detox is usually the first stage of treatment for an addiction to prescription medication. It is helps to safely remove drugs from the body. This process should always be done with medical assistance. Post-detox, there are many options available. Looking into inpatient, outpatient or residential treatment is a very good idea.
Inpatient treatment centers are helpful in cases of serious addiction. These are best for individuals who need intensive care. They offer a comfortable place for people to work through their issues. Everything is taken care of, so patients can focus on themselves.
Residential treatment centers offer plenty of time to concentrate on recovery. They provide many services, including constant medical supervision. Patients are given a very structured environment. These centers offer family therapy, nutritional recommendations and more.
Outpatient treatment centers can help prevent a full-blown addiction. They are the best option in early stages. These are also useful as a recovery tool post-detox or after inpatient treatment. Patients are able to live at home and travel to their appointments.
Having a good support network is crucial to a successful recovery. It’s a great idea to look for a therapist, counselor, or someone you can talk to. Support groups can be helpful, as well. They’re a great reminder that you’re not alone. Cutting out bad influences is also very important. The people in your life should be respectful of your choices. Leading a drug-free life may seem impossible now, but the journey toward happiness and health can begin whenever you choose.
Wow! Thank you. The article was very, very informative. It was very balanced. I clearly got the sense that the writer at really cares about the buspirone user or potential user. I was just prescribed this medication by my very conservative doctor. He was very thorough and wanted to take “baby steps” in treating my increasing anxiety. I wanted to do my own research and this article was Not “alarmist”, but very balanced in pointing out the do’s and don’ts and potential problems regarding the use of this medication. Thank you!! YOU’VE eased my Anxiety as much as the medication.
We are glad to know that this article resonated with you, Aaron! Have a wonderful week!
I absolutely agree. Extremely thorough and helpful, without being alarmist about the risks. That’s a difficult balance to achieve. Thank you!!! Karen, R.N., M.N.
How has it been working for you? I as well have been prescribed this a few days ago but I always do tons of research before I even take my first dose. I hope your doing well and look forward to your reply. I do not know how these replies work I’ve never commented on anything before so I hope you see this.
I took 3 7.5 hdl can I have an overdose?
Ted, we recommend contacting your care provider or pharmacy where you get your prescription filled for recommended dosages. Best wishes!
I was just given a prescription for this medication. I was given all the info. You provided thank you. I’m terrified of this drug.
We our glad you stopped by during your investigation into your prescription. Have a wonderful day!
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences! We wish you all the best on your journey!
Meanwhile, I started taking it in january, and no real side effects to speak of… maybe a few hot flashes when I had my dose increased, but otherwise its been a joy to take unlike virtually every SSRI i tried before this.
I’m noticing at my clinic…first, all of us in chronic pain were taken off our pain medications. That was about 5 years ago and things have not been good since. All the older doctors retired and there’s this whole new crop of very young doctors who won’t prescribe anything.
Today I went in for my six month medication check for the few medications I still get to take and as the doctor came in there was no pleasantries at all; right to business. I knew this wasn’t going to be good. The discussion sounded a lot like the day I came in to find out I wasn’t getting hydrocodone anymore (this path isn’t working anymore; these drugs weren’t designed to keep you free from pain forever; we need to take a new ‘course of action’ etc). In so many words I was told to get ready because now the doctors (and the DEA) are going after our anti-anxiety meds too. I was told to start taking burspar and I politely said no. I didn’t want to get into it but I really want to just let this doctor have it. I know what they’re doing; I know WHY, I also know they don’t care at all about we the patients, they care about not getting sued and showing the DEA they’re not prescribing any controlled substances.
I think it’s time to find a new doctor. I hope this isn’t the case everywhere.
Do not take this medication and especially don’t give it to your children.. When coming off this medication which was Prescribed to me in jail for post traumatic stress and anxiety I became 51..50. I had insomnia for a whole week and didn’t even sleep an hour.. I knitted like a cat with my feet I had uncontrollable hostility. I found myself sitting a d realizing I was staring into space with a comotose blank stare for god Knows how long..i bid inside closets from my adult children so they wouldn’t see their mother like a serial killer zombie with feet like a kitten.. This medication was insane for me and worst of all I never received the precautionary pharmacy List while incarcerated.. Which I asked for so I could make an informative decision. Based on not my own decision I was prescribed this with the jails best interest at heart.. So it seems now..
That is a very powerful message, Julie. Thank you for your input.
I despise Dr’s. -This just proves they don’t really care about their patients.
-They want to take me abruptly off something I have been taking for 15 years and has helped me (Ativan). I never needed to up my dose, and it helped me tremendously to have a normal life and to deal with my stress and anxiety. … And put me on this.
I asked why I cant continue as I have been? Or, at the LEAST, since I have been taking it all this time, wean me off it very slowly … which they refuse to do.
I have read I can have seizures or it can cause death if I don’t have it in my system.
How horrible. … And now I have to worry about that, along with trying to deal with the extreme stress I am under every day, and not having something that helped me so much and I have been used to taking for years.
What horrible people they are. … Now having the huge anxiety all of a sudden on me. … There has to be a special place in Hell for anyone who would do that to another human being.
Now they are trying to tell me I am a nut job and they had some kind of drug crisis center call me.
What kind of people DO that?
All because my Dr who I had all my life retired. …It’s unbelievable. … Now I know why my wife doesn’t trust or have any faith in Dr’s .
and wont go to them.
She does things the “natural” way. -So I am going to try her way and go the way of chinese herbs and serenagen (from metagenics). Sadly it costs a lot more, but so be it.
I think you are worrying way too much. Truth is, you don’t know how this will effect you if you don’t try it. This medication does wonders for my general anxiety. My whole life I have struggled with anxiety and most medications (Like xanex) just made me irritable and tired. Meanwhile, this medication helps me focus, doesn’t make me drowsy like the others, and even helped me cut back on smoking. I suggest that you do your research before you down play other doctors. Not all of them are the same and sometimes it takes time to find one that works for you. I hope the natural way helps you, but if it doesn’t i suggest finding a doctor who will listen to you, instead of vilifying all of them. People do not become doctors to be evil. One bad experience doesn’t justify being a jerk about all of them.
I was prescribed this medication recently also. After reading, I don’t believe I’m going to take it. The last thing I need is for my anxiety to be exasperated with more trouble to deal with. I think I’ll stick to my CBD oil. If there’s another medication that you’d recommend over this one, without the unwanted side effects, feel free to give me your input. I was told I could take this medication AS NEEDED, which is what I asked for, which is not what I read here. It even says “take as needed” on the bottle, which is a red flag for me if this is not an as needed medication.
We are glad that the information assisted you, Cara! Best wishes and happy holidays to you.
I have a very addictive system Fram 2008 being prescribed morphine for 3 years after a surgery and going cold turkey off of it I thought I was going to die so I’m terrified of medication. I have a good doctor now who is treating my anxiety with Valium which works for me but I know it is very addictive and the last thing I want is another addiction. I have this prescription because it was prescribed to me from another doctor before I went to the new dr. I never started taking it for some reason I think my addictive behavior thought I needed eight instant gratification I wanted it to work today. So I never stuck with the program. I am a daily Valium user I’m allowed to take 30 mg that I only take 10 mg per day typically. Can I take BuSpar while I am taking Valium and then slowly wean myself off of Valium? I really don’t want be addicted to a benzo.I’m also on a clinical program with suboxone another medicine I would like to get off a. Would adding this to my Regiment of medications be harmful and could I wean myself off of Valium by taking his medication along with my Valium and slowly just quit my Valium. I do have the extended release form at it is prescribed to me I can get refills and would really like to be on something that I feel like I don’t have to chase after the pill if you know what I mean. I’m the only one in my family that has has addiction issues since 2008 and the morphine episode. Except my mother was an alcoholic I’m assuming I got a lot of her traits. She was a beautiful woman with a serious addiction and I look like her and I behave like her. Any input would be so appreciated thank you..
How has everything worked out for you? I understand alot of what you have said and would be interested in knowing what you have done to help your hard situation. Look forward to hearing from you.
My Dr tried to give me byspar, and I told her I only wanted something to treat the panic attacks , not a daily med. She got mad because I wanted xanax, and refused to be my dr anymore. Shes young and dumb so I didnt agree with her. I’m 60 , and know what will work for me, but she insisted I take a pill daily. I told her to take a flying leap, and now I know I was correct in my own analysis. Drs think they are superior know it alls and it seems to be the general consensus that the patient never knows better then them. I’ll stick to CBD also. Looking for a new dr now, one one is not so quick to prescribe poison.
Not all doctors think they are better. People abuse xanex all of the time. And if they prescribe something like that and the person abuses it, they could be held responsible. I have met two doctors that lost their licence due to patients ODing on xanex and pain killers. That would be enough to make me super cautious. Also, Buspar is far less addicting and will keep the panic attacks away overall. Otherwise you are taking xanex when you are having a panic attack, versus keeping the panic attacks away.
I was very worried about starting this medication but reading all the information you provided helped me in alot of ways. I do know that anyone can become addicted to ANY medication. That has happened to me and my husband because we have been on them for so many years. I think that if you take them as prescribed and they work for you with no major side affects then I don’t see a problem. So far I don’t have any side affects and I am excited to see if it works because I’ve only taken 5mg. 3 times a day for 3 days. I’ll let you know when it works. Thanks for listening.
We are glad that this article resonated with you, Lisa. Thanks for your perspective, and look forward to hearing back from you. Best wishes!
I have been taking this medication for sometime now and have nothing but good results. All drugs have something that you may not like. I take it 4 x a day and it’s easy on my system . I sleep well eat well I have no crazy thoughts just calmness. I workout 3 x per week and have a happy feeling that I did not have before taking Buspar. It’s been a life saver for me.
Thank you for reading my thoughts on my experience with Buspar.
Thank you for sharing your experience with the medication, Maryjo! Happy holidays.
How has everything worked out for you are you still taking them? I was just prescribed these as well 5mg 3 times a day. Look forward to hearing from you.
Buspar abuse? Is this a joke?
No, Frank, this has become a recurring issue, and we are trying to spread awareness. Have a wonderful day, thank you!
Thank you for reaching out, Emily! We would advise to follow your doctor’s recommendation. It may be that the medicine does not need to accumulate over time in your system, and the doctor would like you to take it as needed, or when you suspect you will need it that said day. If you have any further questions, you are welcome to contact us at the number provided on this page! Have a wonderful day.
These 5MG Tablets 3 Times A Day Have Been Amazing For Controlling My Anxiety! I have been on tons of meds and this one is by far the easiest to take and has made a huge difference in my life short term. I have been having crazy dreams though. Before I never had dreams, I would rather have dreams than to have to suffer with anxiety though. These have been great for my life and seem to have little to no side effects compared to Xanax and Volume.
I don’t know where you get your info but Buspar is FAR less addictive then ANY Benzodiazepine, and has little or no potential for abuse.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Scott. Happy holidays!
I was prescribed this medication about a year ago 15 +15 a day. I stopped taking it 3 months ago because I couldn’t tell any difference in its effect since I m rather calm most of the time and I only need it when I have to fly. However, when I stopped taking it, I developed insomnia for the very first time in my life.
Thank you for stopping by and sharing your experience with insomnia and BuSpar.
Buspirone, is similar to SSRIs in it takes a week or two for effects taken orally, and it affects serotonin. Snorting it is common in jail, or when you don’t have any better substances. Calling it an equal to xanax is an exaggeration. It’s mildly euphoric and might make you smile or laugh, but don’t expect anything too enjoyable.
Thank you for your input, Emiko!
I just started buspar. Thank you for the great read.
You are most welcome, Richard! Happy new year!
Great article. I started buspar recently and I think it’s great. I can feel it working within 20 minutes,not a high, just calmness. I take 7.5mg as needed once or twice a day and 20mg Prozac. It’s definitely cut my urge to drink.
Thank you for sharing your personal experiences, Rob! Wishing you the best as you continue your journey.
My mother has Alzheimer’s and her dr started her on buspar for her anxiety and sundown symptoms. However, I think her agitation and nervousness has worsened and want her off this medication. I read that it needs to be gradually eliminated. What are the recommendations?
Rebecca, sorry to hear about your mother. The best option would be to bring up the concerns to her doctor and discuss taking her off the medication. Wishing you and your family all the best moving into the new year!
I recently started taking this prescribed at 7.5 once or twice a day. Since taking it, I’ve experienced a tightness in my chest that rises up to my throat. Anyone else? Is this from the medication?
Marsha, anti-anxiety medication can have adverse side effects. The tightness in your chest could be a side effect. You should contact your care provider for next steps. Best wishes.
Thank you for sharing your experiences, Landon! We wish you nothing but the best moving forward!
I took buscar for 4 years daily and just recently tapered off and the withdrawals have been HORRIBLE!!!! even with tapering! I highly suggest researching other options before taking this medication. It worked at the beginning but then it wasn’t anymore. If I wouldve known I would Go through all of this getting off of it, i would’ve never taken it. I have every single withdrawal symptom on that list and I’ve eve had to take time off work. Please don’t take it if you have healthier options.
Thank you for sharing your experiences, Amarie! Wishing you nothing but success as you continue on your recovery journey!
Hi Amarie! I also have been taking buspirone for about 3 years now. Out of nowhere I started to get vertigo, and horrible heart palpitations. I stopped taking it cold turkey and ended up almost going to the emergency room because I thought I was having a heart attack. Turns out it was because my anxiety has sky rocketed because of these withdrawal symptoms. So I got back on it and cut my dose from 5mg a day to 2.5 in the morning and night. This has caused me to have HORRIBLE insomnia. I mean only at night when I’m exhausted and going to close my eyes, and I jolt out of my sleep and feel like I’m literally dying and go into a complete panic attack. I’ve had to take .25 of Xanax when this happens now until these side effects go away. I have generalized anxiety/panic disorder. I have never experienced anxiety to this measure before. I’m constantly afraid I’m going to have a heart attack or seizure. I have been on many different medications and have never had issues like this before. I now am only taking 2.5mg of buspirone once in the morning. I will continue this for a month and then try to come off of it completely and try to get my neurotransmitters and serotonin levels back to normal with a holistic healing doctor.
I have been on Effexor for 13 years. Tried getting off twice with terrible results. I weaned off over the course of 30 days and felt sick, angry, crying, out of control. My friends noticed the change and told me to go back on it. So I did. I started on Xanax 5 years ago while being treated for liver cirrohsis .05 mg 2x day as needed. I was experiencing shaking and crying and the panic attacks were the worse. My doctor was very conservative and careful about every medication he started on me to help the symptoms, high blood pressure, edema in legs, gastric ulcers ect. Then 2 years ago I moved to another state and continued the same regiment only I was now suffering with sciatica due to back problems. New Dr. added Gabepentin to the mix. Now I live in Alabama and went to the sweetest Dr.ever. He wants me to wean off Xanax and prescribed Buspirone 5mg. 3x a day as needed. I enjoyed your article especially the comparison of Xanax vs Buspirone and how Buspirone is better for the liver. I hope this medication works for me so I can get off Xanax. I am recovering alcohalic 5 years sober. I have PTSD and have been in therapy. Therapy doesn’t stop a panic attack. Keeping my fingers crossed this med helps me. Thanks for the informative article.
Thank you for sharing your honest experiences, Christine! Wishing you nothing but continued success with your sobriety and medication changes!
for that. At the beginning when l first started it l remember feeling a little dizzy but it did go away after the 4th day. Now there is a shortage on this medication n l ran out and had to completely stop. I did not have any side effects stopping it after being on it 10 yrs.
What l will say here for all to know is different pharmaceuticals have there own fillers they add to making the buspar pill and that can have side effects that people arent aware of. Like brand names mylan’s buspar is excellant. Zydus brand is much stronger so you need less. Tevia lve heard has lots of bad reviews but the cheapest for your dollar. If l should ever need the medication again l hope the shortage of the best brands will be available on the market again. It IS important to know that not all buspar medications are the same by the type of fillers the companies use to mix with the buspar powder. Ive done my research n this is what lve experienced trying these different brands that make this medication. Thanks!
Thank you so much for sharing your research with us! We are glad you haven’t experienced any negative side effects with this medication. Wishing you and your family all the best!
I have been taking buspirone for a couple weeks 5 mg twice a day. It’s seem to help the first week or so felt relax and could sleep. Until the other day I would wake up with anxiety attacks every morning. My doctor told me to stop consider it was causing me to have more anxiety attacks. So I didn’t take any on Thursday. Woke up Friday morning at 4 am heart beating like crazy. Scared me so bad went to er they ran all types of test ekg blood work and all didn’t see anything wrong by the time I left er everything was back to normal. So I started thinking maybe I shouldn’t just stop this medication so I took only one Friday woke in the morning with a anxiety attack not as bad as the morning before. So that Saturday I decided to take half to wean myself off woke up again Sunday morning with another anxiety attack and can only sleep for three hours wake up try to bring myself back to normal and go back to sleep. I never had anxiety this bad waking up heart pounding sweating hand, stiff neck, headache, ringing in ear constipation. I don’t know if I should take any tonight? I don’t know how long it takes to get it out of my system but can’t wait. I see my doctor tommorrow hopefully she can guide me.
Thank you for sharing your experiences, Kimberly. It sounds like you are taking the right steps by tapering off, but I would definitely discuss your struggles with your doctor to see how much they recommend you taper by how long. We wish you nothing but success!
Thank you for sharing your personal experiences!
This is my third day on BuSpar. It seems fine, but today on day three I had an anxiety attack. It went away after an hour or two. Am I supposed to feel anxious when dealing with this medication in the first 3 days?
If you are concerned about the side effects of your medication, please reach out to your doctor. They have your full medical history and current medications, so they can provide an informed response to your concerns. We wish you all the best!
I’ve been on 10mg twice daily for months and I have to say that this medication works well for me. I also take escitalopram 15mg daily and the combination of both has me completely relaxed, no anxiety nor stress that I felt daily. Escitalopram on its own was making me too drowsy and had a difficult time focusing with the addition for buspirone I function normally. The only negative is weight gain which I’m trying to get under control but it’s difficult.
Thank you for sharing your experiences with us! We wish you all the best in the future!
with all negativity why is this drug prescribed?
Sometimes the benefits for the individual may outweigh the negatives. However, it is always best to know the potential risks, which is why we try our best to educate everyone.
Hey thanks for the great information i really like your blog and often times i visit your blog to see such interesting articles keep it up.
Glad you like the articles! We wish you all the best!
I was prescribed 10mg Buspirone 2x per day (generic for Buspar) in December of 2017. I have always taken Xanex/Klonopin for my anxiety, but upon entering a drug treatment program for methamphetamine addiction, I advised my doctor to give me something that was not a narcotic.
I took my medication as prescribed until February 24th 2019, when I quit “cold turkey”. There are several different personal reasons that I decided to discontinue use on my own, without consulting my doctor, but this particular day was chosen because it is when my medication had ran out and I didn’t have a ride to the pharmacy and when I went the next day, I got there 10 minutes late and they were closed. So upon waking up the next day, which was day 3 of not having my meds, I decided to just “wait and see” if the withdrawals were going to hit.
I’ve never been diagnosed with any type of bi-polar disorder, but the only way I can describe how I felt for the next few days were almost what a bi-polar person would describe what they feel on their “manic” days. It wasn’t a bad feeling at all, I had a burst of energy and motivation that was borderline “overwhelming” but it felt really good. I work from home on my computer and I found myself pushing through hours of work with no breaks and resulting in some very productive performance!! I even had someone ask me if I was drinking or high, because of how “talkative” and “giddy” I was. I have NO IDEA if this was related to me coming off of this medication but here it is March 3rd 2019 (exactly 1 week since I quit cold Turkey) and I feel great.
I know that there have been many other reports of people who quit cold turkey or by slowly reducing their doses, but with some pretty bad withdrawals. I just wanted to share my story for the people out there that are afraid of the withdrawals and to give some hope that you might not experience any of those things at all. I am not on any other medication and did not self-medicate with any type of substance and I feel incredible.
I am very thankful to have been able to stop this medication without any negative side effects and if you are thinking of coming off this medication also, I hope that your experience is similar to mine.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and providing a bit of inspiration to those looking to get sober too! Great job on your recovery as well and we wish you nothing but continued success!
I’ve only been taking 5mg 2xday for 5 days and I just want to stop taking it now. Will I have any withdrawals?
If you are concerned about stopping your medication and experiencing withdrawals, please reach out to the doctor who prescribed your medication. Your doctor would be able to advise you about stopping any medication.
I just started taking it and the first day was great because I had a terrible reaction from Trintillex, which was good at first, and then I had ups and downs of being very sleepy, or not knowing what to do, and no able to get any work done, so I stopped. The doctor told me to have blood tests, then all three of them never called. I was so angry with them. A friend called and he said he took Buspar mabe with iod on it, and it worked great. He and I were both on Lorazipam to make us less nervous and I took Tramadol for spinal pain and he took the biggie one, the one people get hooked on, and I can’t spell it. Anyway, he said his new doctor said for him to take those two drugs together that could kill him! So, I told my doctor I would try the new Buspar (ion?). The first day I felt better, could sleep even if I woke up I could go back to sleep. And, the next day I get the two-weeks laundry I just couldn’t face and it was easy. But, my food doesn’t taste very good and I’m not sure if it is the pill. I’ll keep trying it, but I think it has to be with something else. Something about the serotonin re uptake that my other med had isn’t the same with Buspar the doc told me, and acts on the seratonin and brain differently. I need to study more, I do not want to go in that awful slump I was in. I always have Xanax in my purse against panic attacks, and used to take 1/2 at night (the orange one…Alprazolam, I believe, the generic)…lasts just 4 hrrs. in your system I was told. So, I’ll continue reading and wish I knew what to do, I’m so tired of different pills. Before this, I took Wellbutrin in the morning and Alprazolam at night. For four years.
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences! We wish you nothing but the best as you continue your journey!
This was extremely helpful to me. I just started buspirone a month ago after having an anxiety attack. It actually started working within 3 days after starting treatment. My biggest hope has been that I can function without any anti-anxiety drugs in the future. Thank you for addressing the addiction factor of buspirone, as I’ve been concerned about that.
Glad the article resonated with you! We wish you the best of luck!
I can’t believe the paranoia expressed on this blog about friggin Buspar. Many, many years of experience with anxiety and dysthymia, as well as medications and therapies to deal with them. Of all the medications out there I wouldn’t be worried about, Buspar would be at the top of the list. I would suspect that many of the issues folks have with Buspar are related to withdrawals or affects from other medications. Buspar, when taken at a proper dose is very gentle, has a good track record for reducing anxiety, especially when connected to GAD. Don’t abuse it…don’t take too little or too much…it’s a good med.
Thank you for sharing your personal experiences! We wish you all the best!
I’ve been taking it since the end of January and I think the medical establishment is either lying or dumb when they tell you that there is no tolerance to this medication. I started out at 5 mg 2X a day, and that worked well at first, then stopped working. Then I upped it to 10 mg 2X a day, and that worked well at first, then stopped working. This is what happens to malevolent drugs that build a tolerance in your system. I tried to titrate down by 5 mg but it caused me to become so nervous that I went back up to 10 mg, but it still doesn’t help me anymore. I seriously think that even if I titrate up to 15 mg 2X a day, it will work at first, then stop working again.
Thank you so much for sharing your personal experiences with BuSpar. We wish you all the best on your journey!
I have been on this medicine for 3 years, along with Lexapro. It is in no way addictive. It takes 2 weeks to feel any difference and all it does is makes you sleepy.
My 15mg prescription says to take twice per day, one during the day, one before bed. I usually skip the day time medicine because I get too tired.
Giving out all this information on how to get high was kind of a trigger, just glad I’m 35. Not cool for the kids.
Thank you so much for sharing your personal experiences! We wish you and your family all the best!
Hi all. I just started Buspar 5 MG March 7th to help ween me off klonopin that I’ve been taking for about 28 years. I have severe panic attacks, agoraphobia, and OCD. Along with major depression and Fibromyalga. The klonopin has kept it all under control all these years. Now due to the government, I have to withdrawal from one and try the Buspar. I’m having little panic attacks and some trouble leaving the house. I hope this stuff works. My NP now wants to add abilify at night. My answer is NO!!! No more pills. I will be 61 years old April 4th, I just want to live my life in peace with as little B.S as possible.
Thank you for sharing your experiences, and we wish you all the best as you try to switch your medications.

industry_corpus2: Biopharmaceuticals


text:
Researchers see new potential for using blood found in the umbilical cord of newborns to treat a range of diseases. Transplants using the stem-cell-rich blood have already become lifesaving treatments for certain cancers and disorders of the blood, but these studies focus on a wider range of conditions.
Scientists are studying whether cord blood or cord tissues can treat certain autoimmune disorders such as Type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as congenital heart disease and cerebral palsy. Experts caution that more studies are needed to prove whether cord blood is safe and effective for these uses, but some see initial signs of hope.
“The early data look very promising that this could be a useful new source of cells that could benefit a larger number of people,” said John Wagner, a professor of pediatrics and director of the blood and marrow transplant program at the University of Minnesota.
Cord blood is found in the placenta and umbilical cord of newborns, and contains stem cells, general-purpose cells that can proliferate and generate more specialized cells.
Hematopoietic stem cells, which are similar to stem cells found in bone marrow, are one of the researchers’ areas of focus. Cord-blood transplants replenish the hematopoietic stem cells that are destroyed by chemotherapy and radiation given to people with certain leukemias, lymphomas and other diseases. More than 30,000 cord-blood transplants have been performed since the first reported procedure in 1988.
Cord blood doesn’t need to be as exact a match as bone marrow, making it easier for unrelated donors and recipients.
Dr. Wagner also sees broader applications for cord blood in autoimmune diseases, in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. These could include Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel diseases.
Studies of this approach in humans have been limited. Some found that giving children with Type 1 diabetes their own cord blood was safe but failed to significantly slow disease progression. Another study showed the technique reversed diabetes in mice, but it is often hard to replicate results from animal studies in humans. Other studies in human Type 1 diabetes are ongoing.
Timothy Nelson, a physician at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is testing whether injecting cord-blood stem cells can help rebuild heart muscle in children born with a congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The condition leaves babies without a pumping chamber on the left side of the heart.
Dr. Nelson is studying whether injection of cord-blood stem cells can strengthen the right-side heart chamber. The stem cells are taken from the child’s own cord blood, banked at birth. The hypothesis is that the stem cells could stimulate tissue repair in the heart.
Another potential application for cord blood is cerebral palsy. The movement and muscle disorder is caused by an abnormality in brain development, often from an injury before or around a child’s birth. Joanne Kurtzberg, who heads the pediatric blood and marrow transplant program at Duke University Medical Center, is running a trial testing whether intravenous infusion of cord blood lessens symptoms of cerebral palsy in pediatric patients, using their own cord blood banked at birth. A prior study showed the method was safe, but the continuing study is designed to compare the efficacy of cord blood with a placebo.
Public cord-blood banks have been created around the country to accept donated cord blood, which is used for transplants in unrelated patients. Donated cord-blood units comprise the vast majority of transplants conducted so far. More than 200 hospitals actively collect cord blood from babies whose mothers consent, and in some cases cord blood from babies born at nonparticipating hospitals can be collected in a kit and sent to public storage banks.
Some parents choose to pay fees of about $2,000 upfront and more than $100 a year thereafter to store their baby’s cord blood with private, for-profit banks, for use by the baby or family members later in life, if a disease treatable by cord blood arises. But the use of privately banked cord blood in transplants has been relatively low so far, and experts say the likelihood that a newborn would need his or her own cord blood to treat a disease is low.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that public cord-blood donations should be encouraged and private banking discouraged in most cases.
Dr. Shearer, a co-author of the policy, says donated cord blood is of more help to others in need for a proven use, whereas blood stored privately is unlikely to be used. This could change over time if some new experimental uses prove workable.
Cord Blood Registry, a for-profit operator of a private cord-blood bank, has released cord-blood units for established and experimental medical treatments, Chief Executive Geoff Crouse said.
Mr. Crouse said some families choose private banking for later use by their baby or another family member to be assured that they would have a close or exact match in the event of needing a cord-blood transplant.
One limitation of cord blood is that each donated unit typically contains relatively few usable cells. As a result, they have been primarily used in transplants for pediatric patients or small adults, though there is evidence that giving an adult two units of cord blood—from two different babies—can be effective.
Jennifer Jones Austin, 45, received a cord-blood transplant from two babies in 2010 after undergoing chemotherapy and radiation to treat acute myeloid leukemia. The leader of a New York nonprofit had tried unsuccessfully to find a suitable match for a bone-marrow transplant, so her doctors turned to cord blood.
She experienced a difficult recovery in the first few months after the transplant, but is now living cancer-free.
She has returned to her full-time job and took a volunteer position as co-chair of the transition team for New York’s new mayor, Bill de Blasio. She also joined the board of trustees of the New York Blood Center, which operates a public cord-blood bank. “I think those are good signs that I’m kind of back in business,” she said.

industry_corpus2: Health & Medicine


text:
The Carhartt by Case Sawcut OIive Green Bone Handle TrapperLock (6154L SS)with Clip and Tru-Sharp Surgical Steel Blades. The TrapperLock measures 4-1/8" closed and weighs 3.4 oz. This knife features an original Sawcut Olive Green bone handle, carrying the brass Carhartt shield and pocket clip. The blade features a strong shoulder and satin finish, while the Lazy Duck bolster has a brushed finish. Specifications Pattern: 6154LC SS Handle Material: Sawcut Olive Green Bone Handle Blade(s): One-Hand Opening Clip Blade with Liner Lock and Thumb Stud Blade Material: Tru-Sharp Surgical Steel Length Closed: 4 1/8" Weighs 3.4 oz.
W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company has been a leading American manufacturer of premium, hand-crafted knives for more than a century. Still manufactured in Bradford, Pennsylvania by skilled artisans using the finest materials and time-honored techniques - this rich heritage makes Case knives the brand of choice for sportsmen and knife enthusiasts, as well as the most collected knives in the world. From hunting and pocket knives to the V-42 Stiletto carried by U.S. Army soldiers in World War II, to the M-1 Astronauts knife carried on the Gemini and Apollo missions, Case knives have been a trusted companion, as well as a tool, for generations.


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The Guam-born beauty pays tribute to her island roots as she throws a party on the beach with Tyga and Chris Brown.
The singer dances up a storm with some group choreography (pop done right!) and shows off her model features and bikini body as she hangs with her friends and Breezy.
It’s a cute, fun video that serves as a nice introduction to the 18-year-old. While it might not be a very memorable video, people will definitely remember Pia Mia’s face – and that chorus has been stuck in my head for over a month now.
Pia’s major-label debut will be released this year under Interscope Records.
What do you think of “Do It Again”?

industry_corpus2: Film & Entertainment


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On International Football Events you have the best of youth and amateur football tournaments just a click away. 5-a-side Football, 7-a-side Football, 11-a-side Football are the protagonists of the international tournaments promoted and organized in collaboration with Sportland Travel. Fun and entertainment are guaranteed for each category and age group, from tournaments for chicks to large open and senior events. If you are looking for a football tournament abroad or in Italy, you are in the right place. Quality services, modern sports facilities and fair play are at the base of every IFE youth and amateur tournament. The rest will take care of the goals and the emotions that only the ball can give away.
The tournaments in evidence for the new season. Between seaside resorts, big European capitals, cities of art, amusement parks nothing is missing to make your sporting holiday an unforgettable experience. There is the Adriatica Football Cup, the Versilia Cup, the Milan Soccer Cup and many other summer, amateur and youth tournaments between Barcelona, Amsterdam, Ibiza and Munich. Sportland Travel will follow you step by step in choosing accommodation and planning your trip. All that remains is to choose and fasten the shoes!
The organizing machine of IFE never stops. You can find lots of summer tournaments for chicks, juniors and seniors, but also events designed for Easter, Epiphany, Pentecost and other holidays.
Sports and entertainment holidays and retreats organized in different locations. Experiences for the little ones and more!
It’s not Easter without football! Discover the great Easter events and leave for your Easter Cup in Italy and abroad.
Even in the Christmas period the organizing machine does not stop. Do not miss the great Epiphany tournaments.
June, July, August … in the summer the best of youth and amateur football is at home on IFE. Pentecost tournaments are not to be missed.
Sharing football passion with friends is the best result of every our event.


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SKYDIVING IN MARYLAND! Visit Ocean City Skydiving Center in Berlin for the most radical thrill ride at the beach.
Call Ocean City Skydiving Center today at 410-213-1319 for more information!


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Early Childhood Mental Health: It’s STANDARD in PA!
There is a lot of concern in the early childhood community about the decline in play and the diminished focus on social and emotional development in early learning environments. I share this concern. My research on the relationship between social and emotional development in young children and their later physical, cognitive and mental well-being (see here and here, for example)has made me even more passionate about the need to preserve play and relationship-based early education.
BUT: I am not going to point the finger just at NCLB or Common Core. Pennsylvania’s Learning Standards for Early Childhood were recently aligned with the state’s Common Core Standards for K-12. They are RICH with standards that promote resilience, executive function, self-regulation and healthy social and emotional interactions.
So why are teachers, and parents, so focused on just the Literacy and Math and Science standards? I believe it is because they are not aware of 1) the importance of early childhood mental health as a predictor of later academic and life success; and 2) the existence of these “forgotten” standards.
To that end, I am planning a social media campaign on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter, as well as through this blog, that will highlight the many standards that truly develop those parts of the brain we need to stay emotionally healthy and socially competent throughout our lives. With the 2014 Standards a requirement for all PA STARS childcare/education facilities as of July 1, 2015, the time is now to start playing with them and discovering their hidden treasures!
We know that all families want the best for their children. I think that if parents and educators better understand that those discussions over who is going to be the princess and who is going to be the puppy in the dramatic play area address multiple learning standards AND may serve as protective factors for later substance use, depression, and anxiety disorders, they will be more on board with facilitating the deep learning that comes with play.
Facebook is a great forum because it is so widely used by individuals, schools and community organizations. We “like” and share visual images, and let’s face it: children doing interesting things are right up there with kittens as viral material! It is my hope that if people find the images compelling, they’ll think about the standards and the overarching message: that early childhood mental health is the same as early childhood social and emotional development and…that it’s “standard” in PA.
Pinterest is another social media platform that is well suited for images with text. Many teachers use Pinterest for lesson planning and I’ve discovered that my most frequently re-pinned images are those having to do with mental health.
Finally, there’s Twitter. I must admit: I’m not much of a tweeter. The 140 character limit makes it a challenge for me! But I recognize that many people DO tweet, especially younger people and…policy makers. Ultimately, it’s important that this message gets to them as well. Plus: with these photos, all I have to do is add the hashtag #ECMHisStandardinPA, and the character restriction is a non issue!
Each of these forums has advantages, and disadvantages. Perhaps the biggest disadvantage is that like anything in social media, the images need to be captivating, and current, and frequent, in order to go viral. They should also represent a wide variety of ages and cultural, linguistic and ability backgrounds to be meaningful. I am hoping to recruit others to help me both gather images and pick up the idea and fly with it.
I have decided to add a copyright notice to the bottom of photos, not to protect my own rights to the idea (it’s supposed to go viral, after all!) but to protect the kind parents and children who have given me permission to use their photos in this campaign (yes, written permission has to be obtained for each of these…).
As I’ve been thinking about writing this (required) post all week, I thought, honestly, of taking the easy way out. I’ve been immersed all semester (and beyond!) in learning about the impact of substance use disorder on families and children. I’ve spent the past two weeks immersed in sharing what I’ve learned in both a formal academic paper, and a multimedia presentation. Why not just post the presentation on this blog, and call it a day?
And then…TODAY, I attended the PAEYC (Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children) conference, where I was presenting on pretend play and executive function (see here and here for earlier posts on this).
AND…when I looked at the conference offerings last night, I discovered that, for the FIRST TIME, at least in the few years I’ve been paying close attention, there was actually a workshop on working with families in recovery from substance use disorder! I was excited! And of course, I attended.
This (all too short) one hour workshop, “Recovering Families: How Addiction and Recovery Impact Children” was presented by Beth Bitler, Program Director of the PA Family Support Alliance, and Bob Brinker, Parent and Community Educator for Family Services of Western PA, Parent WISE Program. It highlighted for me a number of things that I had learned this semester about my challenge that I had forgotten to include in my presentation and paper! And more importantly, it affirmed something for me: there is interest and a desire to learn about SUD in the early childhood community!
1)The organizations involved were working with substance use disorder because their primary focus was child abuse: Between 80 and 85% of families involved with child protective agencies are impacted by SUD.The research on trauma pertains to these children and families. Further, a significant majority of adults suffering from SUD report having been physically or sexually abused as children. One government report cited astounding numbers: according to many studies, between 55% and 99% of female drug users in treatment reported having been sexually and/or physically abused before the age of 18! And this was in 1998…This cycle has been found to be based in part on the changes in brain architecture that occurs with trauma.All the research I read mentioned this. When I mentioned empathy and compassion in my presentation: this is one reason why.
3) While recovery is obviously the goal for ALL families, research shows that many parents leave treatment and are committed to their own recovery, partly in order to regain custody of their children. However, when their children are reunited, many parents then relapse; the stressors of working on both their own continual recovery AND the typical challenges of parenting are often too much for the fragile early stages of recovery. The presenters’ programs were focused on offering continued support for recovery WHILE offering parenting support and skill-training. This seems so important for those us in the field to know and remember: many parents who go to treatment are parenting sober for the first time when they come out. How can WE support them, and their children?
4) As I’ve mentioned, the early childhood community doesn’t seem to be talking about SUD. Imagine my surprise when this workshop had over 50 attendees!!! (My workshop reeled in a big eight!). The numbers verified the interest and the many questions that were asked represented a thirst for information about this disease and how it impacts children and families.
One of the things that has resonated with me throughout my most recent Walden course readings is that, as a profession: we want to get it right. We want to ask the tough questions and delve into the hard issues of bias, and stigma, and the challenges that face so many of the children and families we work with. We all want to do the next right thing, even if it is uncomfortable, because we are committed to making the world a better place, one child and one family at a time.
I don’t know. But I’m glad I’ve had the chance to think about this issue within the context of the family, culture and our society this semester. It has forever changed my thinking about the insidious role of bias and micro aggressions and how they can damage our own best efforts, if we aren’t brave enough to face them head on, and do something about them.
When I first saw this clip a few weeks ago, I thought it was a fantastic representation of resilience! But what IS resilience, and how do we promote it in the children we work with?
In their NAEYC article on resilience, Peter Pizzolongo and Amy Hunter share the American Psychological Association’s definition of resilience as “the ability to adapt well to adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or even significant sources of stress.” They mention research that identifies factors related to infant temperament, like being easy-going, affectionate, and active, as predictive of a child’s resilience. Factors such as a young child’s willingness to ask for help when needed, and an emerging sense of humor have also been shown to be part of this valuable trait.
Sounds good! But how do we GET it?
1) Attachment/Relationships: which refers to the child’s ability to promote and maintain mutual, positive connections with other children and significant adults.
2) Initiative: the child’s ability to use independent thought and action to meet his or her needs.
3) Self-Regulation: the child’s ability to to express emotions and manage behaviors in healthy ways.
Devereux has a great poster that highlights specific behaviors in children that demonstrate these factors..check it out here!
I consider myself a pretty resilient woman. Although I’ve been blessed with much, I’ve also had my share of trauma over the last few decades and have been able to keep riding those waves of change. What was it about MY early childhood years that allows me to keep bouncing back? Here’s a quick pictorial tour of the protective factors my family offered me that I am SURE helped to promote my resilience!
I was born with the kind of temperament that made it easier to form a relationship with me (although I doubt that my sweet Mother would call her plunge into motherhood with me easy!). Temperament is inborn; I got lucky!
I had lots of chances to play with other children: neighbors, children of my parents’ friends, like little Frankie here, and relatives.
and I was the apple of my grandfather’s eye (first grandchild and all that)!
My parents were attentive, but gave us lots of freedom to explore and play independently.
They encouraged us to try new things (no, golf did not become my passion…).
And encouraged us to imagine and pretend and become our dreams.
And the result of this support? TA DA! A beaming little artist on her way to resilience!
I’m sure many of you have read of Albert Bandura’s experiments with Bobo the Clown…you remember: we see a young child pounding on poor Bobo after seeing a grad student model aggression? Well, here’s a great example of emotional regulation when all of the protective factors are in place! A good day for little Stephanie AND her pal Bobo!