Some interesting stuff going on..

1. An afternoon nap is good for the heart : "Those who took naps of more than 30 minutes three or more times a week had a 37% lower risk" of heart-disease related death. This seems to be more beneficial in working men (64% reduced risk) as compared to non-working men (36 % reduced risk). Not enough female deaths occurred to get figures for female risk reduction. Obviously, there is the additional factor.. the sort of people who manage to fit in an afternoon nap are the less likely to be stressed individuals/Type A people, making them less likely to indulge in other stressful behavior that could lead to heart disease. So, is mid-afternoon sleep by itself beneficial (in any person type) or is it the sort of person who decides to sleep in the middle of the afternoon who is doing himself a favor ? Like Dr Dimitrios Trichopoulos says "Its worth studying further."
2. Doctor links microwaveable popcorn to bronchiolitis obliterans : It seems heated diacetyl, a compound found in synthetic butter and food flavoring when inhaled can cause small airway scarring over a period of time. The patient in this case liked the fragrance of heated popcorn so much that he would often inhale the fragrance immediately after making himself a bag. Also, he had eaten microwaved popcorn at least twice a day for more than 10 years. The NY times article further states that "Exposure to synthetic butter in food production and flavoring plants has been linked to hundreds of cases of workers whose lungs have been damaged or destroyed." But characteristically "Producers of microwave popcorn said their products were safe." The man in question stopped eating popcorn and his lung function improved in as little as 6 months. I smell a lawsuit in the making..
3. "Designer vaginoplasty" may be dangerous : If you watch E! channel (I do!!) then you know what this is about. Even last week on Dr. 90210 I saw a bit of an episode where a woman had a perineal surgery to possibly tighten her butt and her vagina (?). I didn't hang around long enough to find out.. But similar procedures to "tighten areas altered by aging and childbirth" are " not medically indicated" cites the American college of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Surprise surprise !! What I didn't know (I guess this borders on gossip ) was that the famed Dr. Matlock who has treated at least 3000 women was placed on probation after a malpractice suit in 2000. Anyway, his training course (for other aspiring plastic surgeons) costs more than 50,000$ and he has trained 140 doctors. Wow- thats quite some money to have made on a procedure that has not been proven to be of any benefit, is not backed by scientific studies and has quite a bunch of potential risks!!