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Opera – An Evolution Over Time

  • Posted on March 29, 2008 at 6:41 pm



The literal or etymological meaning of the word ‘opera’ in Italian is ‘work’ (from its plural ‘opus’ meaning ‘labor’ or ‘work’). If we wish to inquire about the origin of opera, we will only learn that it had no particular source, it has rather evolved with time. Initially it was performed in courts, and later moved on to public performances. The country where it first originated was of course Italy, as the literal meaning suggests. The first accepted composition of the opera is “Daphne’. It was said to be the first performance of the opera composition in 1598 during a carnival at the home of Jacopo Corsi, in the beautiful city of Florence, Italy. Italy was a great music talent and enjoyed great music in its music carnivals, canti camascialeschi. The time period from 1500-1700 AD is considered as the one propounding the earliest influences of this Italian Music on the European Continent; this period is known as “Baroque”.

After the Baroque Period, the opera split into two – opera seria (serious opera) and opera buffo (comedic opera). The former was dominated by Germans. It took excerpts from myth and history; while the latter took the lives of ordinary men and exemplified their stories of love, revenge, deceit, etc. another form of opera which dimmed the Italian opera for a while was the “Ballad Opera”; it was inspired by the Old Ballads and got immediate popularity in London. Another form of Opera called the “Singspiel Opera” combined songs with spoken dialogues and was popularized by the Germans; similarly French Comique was popularized by the French; and both of these find their root in the “opera buffo”.

In 1800, the opera was still dominated by the Italians and we see that the storylines were based on tragedy and the conflicts between tyranny and oppression. In 1900, opera came to be dominated by the Germans and became nationalistic and often based on legend and folklore. Till date, opera remains an outstandingly popular form of music which is enjoyed world over. From merely the European Continent, it has evolved to become a world heritage when it comes to music. This is evident by the large number of Opera Houses all over the world; the largest one being in the New York City and second to it in Chicago; both being Non-European. The Opera House in Sydney is also very popular.

With time, Opera has served the taste of all music lovers and has also commercialized the use of “Opera Glasses” also known as Theatre Binoculars. These are designed according to the Galileo design of the binoculars with hardly any change in design at present. The most feasible magnification power of these is considered to be 3X. These have also evolved from once being considered as a cheap means of watching the opera by the middle or lower classes who did not have the capacity to purchase front row tickets; to now being a very trendy affair and a style statement for going to the opera. Extremely exquisite, extravagant and intricate designs are available in these with added new features of dim lights, lorgnettes, handles, chains etc. They are now recognized as fashion accessories and a must have for an opera-goer.

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Bad Breath (Halitosis) Causes and Treatments

  • Posted on March 28, 2008 at 6:40 pm



Halitosis or bad breath is a common condition that affects up to 25% of the population in varying degrees. Halitosis is usually caused by poor mouth hygiene, mouth infection, oral disorder, food and drinks, constipation and medication. It can be cured through right diagnosis and treatments.

Halitosis is usually caused by oral bacteria and as a result, release unpleasant smell. Poor mouth hygiene, such as infrequent brushing or flossing of teeth, allows the flourish of these oral bacteria. The decayed food leftovers in the mouth and in between the teeth can cause bad odor too. Brushing at least twice a day and flossing can take away food leftovers in the mouth and in between teeth.

Oral disorder like gum problem and tooth decay can also cause halitosis. To fight bad breath caused by gums and tooth problems, consult your dentist and have the problem sorted out. Halitosis caused by mouth infection (sore mouth) and throat infections (tonsillitis and sore throat) will disappear when the infections are cured

Some experts explained that some people tend to have more bacteria concentrations in their tongue than normal which then causes bad breath. No matter how careful they are, they would still have bad breath. A regular scrapping of tongue with some special scrapper will help. Seeking a doctor’s advice can be a big help in eliminating the disorder.

In addition, foods and drinks that we take through the mouth can cause bad breath. Raw garlic can leave pungent odor and may blend with breath. The same is true for alcoholic drinks and cigars. Chewing menthol-flavored gums and mints can help to sweeten breath and mask the odor.

Food allergy or intolerance can cause bad breath. Feeling bloated and full all the time as your stomach creates gas, which, withdraws in your mouth, causes the smell. The best solution is to avoid the foods that cause the allergy symptoms.

Constipation sufferers may have bad breath. Waste on bowels build up in the body can cause back production of gases which are being eliminated via breath. Bad breath caused by constipation should disappear when passing of stools becomes normal. High-fibre diet helps bowel to function regularly. Sufferers should exercise regularly and drink plenty of water.

Medication can also induce bad breath due to the presence of chemical substances in some drugs. Patients on long term medication may seek doctor’s advice on whether it would possible to get a replacement drug. For patients on short term medication, chew parsley or mint to sweeten the breath seems to be a better solution.

Sleeping with open mouth also leads to bad breath. This can be observed if your breath is worst in the morning after waking up. Open mouth reduces saliva which freshens our mouth and therefore encourages bad breath to develop. If your nasal problems that cause you to breath through mouth, you need to see your physician for some sound advice.

Commercial breath-freshening products provide temporary relief since these products only mask mouth odors for a short period of time. These products do not solve the problem of bad breath. To solve the problem permanently, you need to find the cause of the halitosis and take the right treatment. Good mouth hygiene is important to keep your mouth fresh. Drink plenty of water to keep your mouth moist. This prevents bacterial from building up in your mouth and thereby helps to reduce bad breath.

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Allergies, Autoimmune Disorders, and Hypnosis

  • Posted on March 23, 2008 at 10:23 am

Integrative medical interventions intended to address allergies and other autoimmune disorders usually fail to adequately address the nature of the human immune system. The body’s homeostatic balance should assume that our immune system can properly identify times when a foreign body is a threat and when it is not. However, to fully understand its true nature and how integrative interventions may apply, the clinician must realize its duality.

We actually have two immune systems, not one. Our first responder is our innate immune system. It digests certain foreign bodies and marks others for destruction. Its components include white blood cells, such as Null Cells (also called Natural Killer Cells and NK Cells), monocytes, and B-Cells. On the other hand, our longer-term immune system is our adaptive immune cells. This includes basophils and T-cells. Generally, the adaptive system is slower to respond, but longer lasting.

Autoimmune disorders such as allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, multiple sclerosis, anklosing spondylitis, and Chrons disease represent a failure of our learning system. In order to respond correctly, the many components of our immune system must have the knowledge of what intrusions are actually threats. What medical scientists realize is that overreactions are potentially harmful and deadly as under reactions. The goal is to retrain a dysfunctional system to properly react. However, to do this using integrative intervention, the clinician must respect the fact that both the fast innate system and the slower adaptive system are retrained differently.

My theory is that that innate system is more responsive to rapid, direct suggestion hypnotic techniques and that the adaptive system requires the slower approach offered by guided imagery, Ericksonian hypnosis, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming.

The techniques used by stage hypnotists and taught to over 3,000 clinicians in the 1950′s and 60′s by former stage hypnotist David Elman, appear to be more capable of creating rapid physiological changes. Elman believed that hypnosis is a state where the critical factor of the mind is bypassed and selective thinking is allowed. Therefore, the relaxing trance state, even if it is induced by his rather fast methods, is not necessarily a requirement for altering the innate system. Direct suggestion, to include his waking hypnosis techniques, could also affect changes without relying upon a parasympathetic activation. My suspicion, however, is that while these techniques may be great for rapid symptom relief, more permanent changes are rather doubtful. After listening to hours of the original Elman recordings, I feel that he would agree with this conclusion. (Note that many of Elman’s techniques were meant to work instantly in the case of a waking hypnosis or post hypnotic suggestions. Or, he required his medical and dental students to achieve somnambulism in one to three minutes.)

Conversely, retraining the adaptive immune system as a part of a long lasting cure, will be affected by hypnotic techniques which would require substantial re-programming of the subconscious mind. This more naturalistic approach was championed by Dr. Milton Erickson. This allows the therapist an opportunity to interfere with dysfunctional patterns and to empower the subconscious mind to restructure learnings in a way that promotes lasting change. Other than Erickson, I put into this category the wonderful guided imagery work by Belleruth Naparstek, LISW, and the NLP allergy work by Anne King, PhD.

The correction of autoimmune dysfunction requires a re-training of the rapid innate immune system and the slower, more permanent adaptive system. If hypnotherapy is to be effective for this purpose, the clinician needs to use the appropriate hypnosis protocol. Rapid methods, which can quickly address symptoms, seem to be the best for the innate system. And, the subconscious reprogramming of the naturalistic Ericksonian tradition, guided imagery, and NLP appear to have the most promise for lasting change. By using the right tools psychotherapists and hypnotherapist will have the most chance for success.

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Reductil Withdrawal – Is This the End For Diet Pills?

  • Posted on March 21, 2008 at 11:10 am



Popular prescription diet pill Reductil was withdrawn from the market recently over concerns that it can greatly increase your risk of heart disease. What does this mean for the future of diet pills?

How Does Reductil Work?

Reductil (which is a brand name for the drug Sibutramine and is also known as Meridia and Sibutrex) is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories. It is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. This means that it works by blocking the nerve cells which cause serotonin (a neurotransmitter hormone which affects appetite and moods) to be absorbed.

By blocking the absorption of serotonin, Reductil causes the levels of serotonin in the body to rise, and thereby makes users feel fuller for longer, causing them to eat less and as a result lose weight. A simple enough idea, and an effective one too. Reductil became very popular and was prescribed to over 300,000 people in the UK last year. This despite the fact that it was only available to patients who were clinically obese.

Why Has Reductil Been Withdrawn?

From the start it has been known that Reductil can have adverse affects on the cardiovascular system, and raise blood pressure. In fact, patients with a history of heart disease or stroke could not be prescribed it. It was felt, however, that in patients with normal degrees of cardiovascular health Reductil was not a significant risk.

However, a six year clinical trial of over 10,000 patients was recently completed and this showed that Reductil does cause a significant increase in the risk of heart disease. These risks “outweigh the benefits of weight loss” said a director of the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which has attributed 17 deaths to Reductil since 2001.

Because of the evidence from this recent study, Reductil has been withdrawn and – as of January 21 2010 – can no longer be prescribed to patients. Those currently taking Reductil are being advised to see their doctors to discuss alternatives. This isn’t essential, however, as there are no negative health effects from simply stopping taking Reductil.

What Does The Reductil Withdrawl Mean For Other Diet Pills?

Reductil isn’t the only diet pill to be taken off the market amid health concerns. Rimonabant was removed in 2008 after it became clear that it caused depression and anxiety. So is it best to avoid all diet pills? Not necessarily. While those who find it easy to lose weight aren’t going to lose out by avoiding diet pills, what these cases really show us is that there can be problems with some specific diet pills, especially those which act upon parts of the body and brain not fully understood. Rimonabant was the first drug of its kind to be used anywhere in the world, and worked by blocking the action of a cannabinoid receptor.

It’s also important to note that the study which led to Reductil being withdrawn used patients of high risk of heart disease, who are the exact people who were not supposed to use the drug in the first place. The study showed only a relatively small increase in numbers of non-fatal heart attacks, and the decision to withdraw Reductil was also based on an assessment of its efficacy. “Available studies show that weight loss is modest” and therefore does not “outweigh the cardiovascular risks.”

Basically, the European Medicines Agency was erring on the side of caution. Which is probably as it should be where health is concerned. But it’s important to realise that there is no need to panic, and Reductil posed only a minor risk. Also, its withdrawl means nothing for users of different diet pills, such as those pills using only natural ingredients and not comprised of stimulants and other chemicals which interfere with brain chemistry. Reductil may be out, but there are plenty of alternatives.

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Should You Consider Dental Implants?

  • Posted on March 17, 2008 at 7:02 am



Dental implants have transformed the cosmetic dentistry field and made it much easier for patients who are missing some or even all of their teeth to have a nicer smile. While in the past people had to rely on restorative methods like bridges and dentures to rebuild their smiles, implants are much stronger than these options and are a more permanent solution to tooth loss. In fact, there are many cases where implants are simply the only logical option for smile restoration. Because implants end up looking and feeling like real teeth, people can speak and eat with confidence once again.

How Implants Have Evolved Over Time

Today’s modern dental implants involve drilling a small titanium post into the jawbone, letting the hole heal for a few months, and then attaching a crown on top of the post. The Swedish dentist, Dr. Branemark, is credited for beginning the modern implant dentistry revolution with his discoveries about the success of titanium fusing to bone. However, civilizations from long ago also attempted to replace missing teeth. Researchers and archaeologists have found that ancient cultures tried to replace missing teeth with stones, shells, or other human or animal teeth. Clearly, people from all walks of time felt that appearances and having a full, healthy smile were important. Today, we’re lucky to be able to rely on the modern techniques of a cosmetic dentist. The right candidate can get implants to transform the look and feel of their smile.

The Process Of Getting Implants

The implant procedure first involves preparing the site for implant attachment. The patient is put under local anesthesia and the cosmetic dentist exposes the bone area where the implant will go. Then, the dentist drills into the bone, places the titanium implant into the hole, and stitches up the area. After the surgery, most patients need to undergo a healing period of at least three months to allow the post to fully become a part of the jawbone, or osseointegrate. When the cosmetic dentist decides the patient is ready, a post is attached to the implant and an abutment is placed on top of the post. This abutment is a step that ensures the crown will fit perfectly.

Are You A Candidate For Dental Implants?

To get dental implants, you need to be in good general health and have healthy gums free of periodontal disease. Candidates also need to have enough bone to anchor the titanium implants to the jaw. Of course, people who’d like to get implants need to be committed to good oral hygiene habits like brushing and flossing regularly.

Any cosmetic dentist will likely tell you that if you are a heavy smoker, you may not be a good candidate for implants because smoking interferes with healing in the mouth. Other factors that may affect the success of implants include heavy alcohol use, being pregnant, having certain chronic diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes, and frequently grinding or clenching the teeth.

For many people, dental implants can be used to replace one or more teeth in a secure, comfortable way. A great alternative to traditional dentures, implants look and feel more natural, don’t sacrifice the integrity of your surrounding teeth, last for years, and allow you to speak and eat with more confidence. Visit your cosmetic dentist to find out if you’re a candidate for implant dentistry.

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Dental Implants

  • Posted on March 14, 2008 at 7:50 am



Dental implants are artificial titanium stubs that can be fitted inside the jaw over which an artificial tooth can be affixed. The implant is a replacement for the root of the tooth, which may have undergone decay.

There are both individual dental implants as well as bridge implants for teeth. Implants can be used for individual teeth as they are not connected to the neighboring teeth, but are instead inserted into the jaw. For people using dentures, several implants can be bridged and inserted into the jaw. Once the implants are in place, the crowns of the teeth are fixed over them.

Implant surgery brings about a remarkable change in the life of the patient. For most people who have lost their teeth, implants can help to regain their original smiles. People with implanted teeth do not find any difficulty in chewing and biting food and, in most cases people do not notice much difference with natural or original teeth.

There are three major types of dental implants: artificial bone substitute implant, endosteal implants and sub-periosteal implants. Artificial bone substitute implants use a calcium substitute to fit over the jaw bone. This substitute bonds over the existing jaw bone over time. Endosteal implants are wedged into the jaw in place of the dental root. Sub-periosteal implants are specialized implants which are preferred for elderly persons who can no longer wear dentures. Sub-periosteal implants are fixed directly over the jaw bone.

Surgeries involving dental implants are no longer as painful as they used to be in their conceptive stages. Local anesthetics allow for painless dental surgeries. However, the implant must be done by a qualified periodontist or a maxillofacial surgeon.

Dental implants need to be looked after. However they do not require any special maintenance as compared to normal teeth. Regular brushing, flossing and checkups are enough. Dentists may advise people with dental implants to avoid chewy and gummy food so as not to over-exert the artificial tooth crown.

Dental implant surgeries are expensive. Their costs may range from $500 to $6000 depending on the type of implant used and whether a maxillofacial surgeon is involved or not. A general implant operation for a single tooth would cost around $2000. Most implant surgeries cannot be fully covered by dental plans and the rest of the payment has to be done by the patients themselves.

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