Another week ends and another of my now famous ‘Dump’….

Local–Good news is the weather has been cooler than normal….bad news is there is a storm brewing that for now is heading in our direction….all we can do is watch and hold our breath.

Personal–In the past 2 weeks I have had a bunch of Playstation Spam in my folder….I have never written nor research video games I guess they just like my style…LOL

My respite from the cancer stuff is near over…..after a month being off I return for more poking and prodding, doctors, treatment, and assorted irritating visits.

Enough mundane stuff…..time for the grits and the gravy…..

Let’s begin with the debate over plant-based or meat…..

The US has deployed at least nine warships toward Venezuela, and some US officials have suggested in comments to Axios that the operation could be “Noriega part 2,” referring to the 1989 US invasion of Panama that led to the ouster of Manuel Noriega. Maduro has vowed to fight if the US attacks, warning on Monday that he will declare a “republic in arms.”

Consider protein as Lego pieces,” says Rahul Kamra, Keto Coach And Founder of Ketorets.

“They are composed of amino acids, which are the fundamental components of life,” he adds.

Ginni Kalra, Head Dietetics at Aakash Healthcare, adds, “Proteins are a nutrient that our body needs for growth, repair, and energy. Plant proteins are present in foods like dals, beans, soy, nuts, and seeds. Animal proteins are present in milk, curd, eggs, chicken, meat, and fish. Both supply essential amino acids to the body, but in different amounts.”

https://www.ndtv.com/lifestyle/is-plant-protein-better-than-animal-protein-experts-weigh-in-9203164

I still prefer my meat.

Of course with all the stuff around processed foods there had to be another study….

A new study suggests that diets high in ultraprocessed foods may negatively affect not just overall metabolic health, but also male reproductive health. In their research published Thursday in the journal Cell Metabolism, scientists from the University of Copenhagen enrolled 43 healthy men, ages 20 to 35, and assigned them to alternating three-week diets: one rich in ultraprocessed foods and another featuring mostly unprocessed ingredients, with a three-month break between phases. All meals were provided to control calorie, protein, carb, and fat intake.

Despite matching calories across the two diets, men gained roughly 3 pounds and increased body fat when eating ultraprocessed foods, while also showing declines in sex hormones linked to fertility—specifically, lower levels of a follicle-stimulating hormone. They also showed trends toward reduced testosterone and sperm motility. The ultraprocessed diet also led to higher levels of the chemical cxMINP, a phthalate often found in plastics, which the authors suggest could contribute to the observed hormonal changes. “Calories from minimally processed foods and calories from ultra-processed foods are not equal, so to speak,” study co-author Romain Barres tells the Washington Post. “They don’t have the same consequences on our bodies.”

The study also noted that men eating unprocessed diets had higher levels of lithium, seen as a positive (it helps regulate mood), but also slightly elevated mercury and PFAS chemicals, likely from seafood and cookware, respectively. Ultraprocessed foods—think chips and other packaged snacks, sugary cereals, and soft drinks—now make up more than half of Americans’ daily calories. These foods are engineered with additives, refined grains, and little fiber, making them shelf stable and not as expensive, but also less nutritious.

I do not have much to worry about for my snacks are mostly fruit, nuts and cheese.

More health stuff…..research into cancer and its treatment….

Colorectal cancer is unique in having its own microbial “fingerprint,” according to new research from the University of East Anglia.

Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second deadliest. The research, which appears in Science Translational Medicine, could help doctors better understand how this cancer develops, how aggressive it might be, and even how a patient might respond to treatment.

The team studied whole genome sequencing (WGS) data from nearly 9,000 cancer patients. The analysis also challenges scientific claims that all cancers are associated with a unique microbial fingerprint.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-dna-analysis-colorectal-cancer-unique.html

Then we have Sperm Bots….to help treat fertility problems….

A team of researchers at the TechMed Center of the University of Twente has transformed real sperm cells into tiny, magnetically controlled microrobots. These sperm bots can now be tracked in real time using X-ray imaging, a breakthrough in medical microrobotics.

This development, now published in npj Robotics, could open new doors in reproductive medicine, drug delivery, and infertility diagnostics.

Sperm cells are naturally fast, flexible swimmers that can navigate the complex environment of the female reproductive tract, making them promising candidates for use in medical microrobotics. Sperm cells are nearly impossible to see inside the human body using traditional imaging methods like X-ray. They’re small, low-density, and nearly transparent to radiation.

https://phys.org/news/2025-09-sperm-bots-cells-coated-magnetic.html

We have been remembering Hurricane Katrina after 20 years….there is one sad problem that still persist….

Two decades after Hurricane Katrina, Alabama’s Dauphin Island is facing a stark reality: It’s literally washing away. The 14-mile barrier island, which took a massive hit during Katrina in 2005—losing 1.5 miles of its west end and more than 300 homes—has continued to erode, battered by storms and rising seas, reports CBS News.

Locals, including Mayor Jeff Collier, now contend with a shrinking landmass and an uncertain future. Some residents still pay taxes on lots that are now underwater, with vacationers swimming over what used to be neighborhoods. Collier says plenty of homes are still standing, albeit in precarious positions—some basically in the Gulf—but admits it’s just a matter of time before they, too, are washed away.

Efforts to keep Dauphin Island above water aren’t cheap. Last year, the town managed to rebuild some of its east end beach using Deepwater Horizon settlement funds, pushing the Gulf back by up to 400 feet. But erosion is relentless, and another major restoration—this time on the west end—carries a $60 million price tag. The town is scrambling for funding, cobbling together grants and settlement money, and upgrading its stormwater systems to handle even routine rainstorms.

A sad report for in my youth Dauphin Island was a popular road trip destination.

I am a dog persaon and I write a lot about them but I realize that there are cat people coming to IST as well and I will try to do better in informing them as well….

Cats can suffer from dementia as well as us humans…..

Many cat owners don’t realize that just like humans, cats can suffer from dementia. A recent paper has even found many similarities between feline and human dementia, finding that cognitive impairment may develop in similar ways.

Some of the symptoms of dementia in cats are even similar to what we might see in humans—though not all of them, of course. Knowing what signs to look out for is important so you can provide your cat with the best care during this phase of its life.

Feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome (also known as feline dementia) is an age-related decline in a cat’s cognitive abilities. It’s generally characterized by behavioral changes that cannot be attributed to other medical conditions.

https://phys.org/news/2025-09-cats-dementia.html

Well sports fans that does it for me on this Saturday…..go out and enjoy the nice weather (if there is some in your area) and as always….Be Well and Be Safe….

I Read, I Write, You KNow

“lego ergo scribo”