🌞 New Treatment

Daily Upsider - Thursday, October 24th, 2024

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James Linder & Julia Mejia
October 24, 2024

Thursday, October 24th, 2024

Good Morning!
As we gear up for Halloween, did you know that an estimated 20% of candy sold each year is purchased the week leading up to the holiday?
What’s your favorite Halloween treat, and how do you plan to celebrate this year? Let us know! 🎃 

Today’s Upside

Health Sciences

New Cervical Cancer Treatment

– Golden Gate OBGYN

A new treatment combining chemotherapy and chemoradiation has reduced death rates from cervical cancer, the fourth most common cancer among women globally, by 40%. This cancer affects over 300,000 women each year, and this approach has been described as the most significant advancement in survival rates since chemoradiation became standard in 1999, according to Dr. Mary McCormack, the lead investigator from University College London.

The 10-year trial, known as the Interlace trial, recruited patients from Italy, Brazil, the U.S., India, and Mexico. It involved a brief course of traditional chemotherapy before the standard chemoradiation, which combines chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This adjustment has led to a 40% reduction in cervical cancer death rates and a 35% decrease in recurrence rates over five years. Funded by Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, the trial involved 500 women with advanced, localized cervical cancer that had not spread. Results showed that after five years, 80% of women receiving the new treatment were alive, with 72% not experiencing relapse or spread of the disease. Cervical cancer typically affects women in their 30s and has a high recurrence rate.

The new regimen uses inexpensive, widely approved drugs. Dr. Iain Foulkes, executive director of research and innovation at Cancer Research UK, stated, "Adding induction chemotherapy to the start of chemoradiation treatment has delivered impressive results. Evidence suggests that additional chemotherapy before treatments like surgery and radiotherapy can improve patient outcomes by reducing the risk of recurrence and can be quickly administered using available drugs."

Sports

Community Over Competition

The Tampa Strong flag – credit, Tampa Bay Lightning

On Tuesday, the NHL season kicked off with the Tampa Bay Lightning defeating the Vancouver Canucks 4-1, providing a much-needed boost for hockey fans in the storm-affected city.

The event also served a charitable purpose, featuring a food drive, a raffle, and a group of Canucks fans who arrived weeks early to assist with power line repairs after Hurricane Milton. Forty-four fans flew in to support their team, the Lightning’s opponents, and helped with recovery efforts. During the second period, they were recognized on the big screen, receiving the loudest cheer of the night. Lightning coach Jon Cooper commented on the moment, saying, "That was a pretty moving moment for me. It shows there’s a lot of good out there. When people help each other, it does make you feel good." Outside Amelie Arena, a collection drive encouraged fans to donate non-perishable food, cleaning supplies, hygiene products, and other essentials for the first two home games. These items were donated to Feeding Tampa Bay, Metropolitan Ministries, and the University Area Community Development Corporation (UACDC).

The Lightning Foundation contributed $2 million towards relief efforts, later increasing that commitment to $3 million thanks to proceeds from a 50/50 raffle. Lightning Captain Victor Hedman also donated $150,000 to the Tampa Police Department and the Coast Guard Foundation. The team partnered with Ticketmaster to reduce ticket prices for the first three home games and reserved hundreds of tickets for first responders and their families as a gesture of appreciation. As the team took the ice, Captain Hedman led them with the “Tampa Strong” flag before securing a decisive 4-1 victory, bolstered by goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, who made 21 saves and faced 14 penalty minutes without allowing a goal.

Environment

Seven New Frog Species

New tree frogs in genus Boophis named for Star Trek captains – SWNS

In the jungles of Madagascar, a research team has discovered seven new species of tree frog, which they named after iconic characters from Star Trek. These frogs, belonging to the genus Boophis, produce high-pitched whistling calls rather than typical croaks, resembling the sound effects from the sci-fi series.

Professor Miguel Vences explained that these frogs were named after notable captains like Kirk, Picard, and Janeway because of their unique sounds. Assistant Professor Mark Scherz noted the challenges of finding these species in remote areas, emphasizing the sense of discovery reminiscent of Star Trek. The frogs' “advertisement calls” serve to attract mates, conveying information about the males’ suitability. They inhabit fast-flowing streams in Madagascar’s mountainous regions, where their high-pitched calls can be heard above the noise of rushing water. Dr. Jörn Köhler pointed out that these sounds are essential for communication in such a loud environment.

Their findings, published in Vertebrate Zoology, highlight Madagascar's rich biodiversity, home to about 9% of the world’s frog species. Professor Andolalao Rakotoarison stated that many new species remain to be discovered, with the team having identified around 100 new species in the last decade alone. They hope this latest discovery will contribute to conservation efforts in Madagascar’s rainforests.

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How Different Countries Say "Thank You"

Expressing gratitude is a universal practice, but the words used to convey thanks vary across cultures. Here’s a glimpse into how people from different countries express their appreciation:

  1. Philippines: In Filipino, "Thank you" is expressed as "Salamat." This word reflects deep cultural values of gratitude and respect, often followed by "po" to show politeness, especially towards elders.

  2. Germany: Germans say "Danke" to express thanks. For a more formal expression, one might say "Danke schön," which translates to "thank you very much."

  3. Japan: In Japan, gratitude is expressed as "Arigatou" (ありがとう). For more formal situations, "Arigatou gozaimasu" (ありがとうございます) is used, reflecting the culture’s emphasis on respect and humility.

  4. France: The French say "Merci" to express thanks. For added emphasis, one might say "Merci beaucoup," meaning "thank you very much."

  5. Spain: In Spain, gratitude is conveyed with the word "Gracias." For a more heartfelt thanks, one might use "Muchas gracias," meaning "thank you very much."

  6. Italy: Italians say "Grazie" to express thanks. In more formal situations or to show extra appreciation, "Grazie mille" (thank you a thousand) is often used.

  7. Russia: In Russia, you can say "Spasibo" (Спасибо) to express gratitude. For a more formal context, one might say "Bol'shoye spasibo," meaning "thank you very much."

  8. China: In Mandarin, "thank you" is expressed as "Xièxiè" (谢谢). This simple yet powerful phrase is widely used in daily conversations.

  9. Brazil: Brazilians say "Obrigado" if they are male or "Obrigada" if they are female. This reflects the gendered nature of the Portuguese language.

  10. Turkey: In Turkey, gratitude is expressed with the word "Teşekkür ederim." A shorter, more casual form is simply "Teşekkürler."

As we reflect on gratitude this Thankful Thursday, let’s celebrate the diversity in how we express thanks across cultures. Whether through a simple "salamat" or a heartfelt "merci," gratitude connects us all.

Mind Stretchers

⁉️

Here’s a Sudoku puzzle for you! Fill in the grid so that each row, each column, and each 2x2 box contains the numbers 1,2,3, 4 without repetition.
You can send in your answers in this format:
xxxx
xxxx
xxxx
xxxx

Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:

  1. COLD → CORD (change 1 letter)

  2. CORD → WARD (change 2 letters)

  3. WARD → WARM (change 1 letter)

So the ladder looks like this:
COLD → CORD → WARD → WARM

Linda Runatz got the answer first again today! 🌞 

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to[email protected]or reply to email.


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