BlackHoleNews.net
Space, UFO and Science Digest

Astronaut Edgar Mitchell Claims Alien Cover-up

Dr. Edgar Mitchell is a veteran of the Apollo 14 mission and he was the sixth man to walk on the Moon. Dr. Mitchell also insists that aliens have visited Earth and that governments are actively covering it up. "I happen to have been privileged enough to be in on the fact that we've been visited on this planet and the UFO phenomena is real," Dr Mitchell said. "It's been well covered up by all our governments for the last 60 years or so, but slowly it's leaked out and some of us have been privileged to have been briefed on some of it. "I've been in military and intelligence circles, who know that beneath the surface of what has been public knowledge, yes - we have been visited. Reading the papers recently, it's been happening quite a bit." Dr Mitchell, who has a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering and a Doctor of Science degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics claimed Roswell was real and similar alien visits continue to be investigated. He told the astonished Kerrang! radio host Nick Margerrison: "This is really starting to open up. I think we're headed for real disclosure and some serious organisations are moving in that direction." NASA issued a quick denial. In a statement, a spokesman said: "NASA does not track UFOs. NASA is not involved in any sort of cover up about alien life on this planet or anywhere in the universe. "Dr Mitchell is a great American, but we do not share his opinions on this issue." If Dr. Mitchell is correct about a cover-up than this is exactly the type of denial one would expect NASA to make. You can listen to the interview with Dr. Mitchell where he discusses the UFO phenomena here. Permalink | Recent Headlines | News Feeds Read more…

Suicide, Coronary Heart Disease Contribute To Increased Risk Of Death Following Bariatric Surgery

17.10.2007 08:41 Science - Source: ScienceDaily Headlines

Science Daily — Approximately 1 percent of Pennsylvania residents who underwent bariatric surgery between 1995 and 2004 died within one year of the surgery and nearly 6 percent died within five years, according to a report in the Archives of Surgery. Death rates overall, as well as deaths from heart disease and suicide, were higher than those of the general state population.

Bariatric surgery has emerged as an effective treatment for severe obesity, according to background information in the article. Obese individuals typically lose up to 80 percent of their excess body weight one to two years after the operation. "Bariatric surgery results in clinical improvement and resolution of the obesity-related comorbid diseases," the authors write, including diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Bennet I. Omalu, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues analyzed data on all bariatric operations performed on Pennsylvania residents between 1995 and 2004. Following 16,683 operations, 440 patients (2.6 percent) died.

"Age- and sex-specific death rates after bariatric surgery were substantially higher than comparable rates for the age- and sex-matched Pennsylvania population," the authors write. "This continued high mortality rate is likely a function of the initial comorbidities related to substantial obesity and the likelihood that the patients remain obese even after the substantial weight loss and have remaining comorbidities."

The researchers found that:

Less than 1 percent of the deaths occurred within the first 30 days after surgery.
The one-year case fatality rate was approximately 1 percent and at 5 years, the cumulative case fatality was 6.4 percent.
Death rates increased with age, especially among patients older than 65; the average age at surgery was 48 years.
Heart disease was the leading cause of death, cited for 76 patients (19.2 percent). Rates of death from heart disease were higher among bariatric surgery patients than the general population.
Of 45 deaths from traumatic causes, 16 (4 percent of all deaths) were suicides and 14 (3 percent) were drug overdoses not classified as suicides. Based on national statistics for the general population, only two suicide deaths would have been expected among this number of individuals.

"It is likely that this continued excess mortality after bariatric surgery could be reduced by better coordination of follow-up after the surgery, especially control of high risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia [high cholesterol] and smoking, as well as efforts to prevent weight regain by diet and exercise and psychological support to prevent and treat depression and suicide," the authors conclude.

Reference: Arch Surg. 2007;142(10):923-928.

Note: This story has been adapted from material provided by JAMA and Archives Journals.