The Unsinkable Britney Spears

A couple of years ago, Britney Spears' career was on the slide. Her life itself was careering out of control. This week, she's back at #1 with Circus, which sold 505,000 copies. It's Spears' biggest sales week in more than five years, since her fourth album, In The Zone, opened with sales of 609,000 in November 2003. This week's tally marks a substantial improvement over Spears' last album, Blackout, which opened at #2 in November 2007 with first-week sales of 290,000.
Spears' revival echoes Mariah Carey's comeback from a similar meltdown.



After the failure of her movie Glitter and some erratic public moments in 2001, Carey's days as a superstar seemed numbered. But she came back in 2005 with The Emancipation Of Mimi, which wound up as that year's #1 album. In both cases, the public embarrassments humanized the stars; made them seem more real and relatable. Far from imperiling the artists' careers, the struggles seem to have strengthened the artists' bonds with their fans.


Circus is Spears' fifth #1 album. The pop icon, who turned 27 on Dec. 2, has accumulated five #1 albums at a younger age than any solo artist since Elvis Presley. The King was 25 and 11 months when he landed his fifth #1 album, the G.I. Blues soundtrack, in December 1960. Elton John is in third place on this list. He was 27 and eight months when he landed his fifth #1 album, Elton John-Greatest Hits, in November 1974. (2Pac, who was 25 when he died, has also had five #1 albums, though he scored only two of them in his lifetime.)

Spears is the fifth female solo artist to amass five #1 albums. She follows Barbra Streisand, who is the leader among women with eight #1 albums; Madonna, who is closing in fast with seven; and Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson, who have six each. Circus opens with the seventh biggest weekly sales total of 2008. Among female artists, only Taylor Swift has had a bigger first week so far this year. Spears' album got off to a faster start than the latest albums by Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Miley Cyrus, Madonna, Leona Lewis and Janet Jackson. Not bad for a singer whom many had written off.

The title song from Circus enters Hot Digital Songs at #1, with first-week sales of 212,000 downloads. It's Spears' third #1 hit on this chart, following "Gimme More" and "Womanizer." "Circus" enters the Hot 100 at #3. "Womanizer" topped the Hot 100 two months ago, becoming Spears' first #1 on that chart since her debut release, "...Baby One More Time."


Britney Spears, Circus, 505,000. This new entry is Spears' seventh top 10 album, her entire output except for a 2005 compilation of remixes. This is Spears' sixth consecutive studio album to debut at #1 or #2. More than 118,000 of these copies were sold digitally, making it the week's #1 Digital Album. Only four albums have ever sold more downloads in one week. Nine songs from Circus are listed on Hot Digital Songs, topped by "Circus" at #1.

With Love: Amirul010

She's Back!!!!

CONGRATULATION

TO

BRITNEY SPEARS

Based on early sales last week, Britney Spears' latest album, Circus, was expected to debut with over 450,000 copies sold - up from an original prediction of around 300k..
But Britney has surpassed the expectations.

According to Hits Daily Double, Brit Brit has now sold 504,507 copies of Circus and made it to the top of the U.S. album charts! She's sold more albums in her firs week than Kanye and Beyonce did with their new albums!

Msg to the haters out there, screw you, she's earning millions of cash while your talking smack about her, to the left..to the left haters and start looking your self in a mirrior, you think you're so preety? think again!

With Love: Amirul010

Sources: Perezhilton.com

Nasopharyngeal Cancer (NPC)

As some of you already know that i'm currently doing my clinical placement with the ENT department. Through out my internship in the department, I learned that the amount of Bruneian suffering with NPC is getting higher and higer. Hence, i'm gonna elaborate to you guys on what is NPC and is it treatable.

What is NPC?
Nasopharyngeal cancer develops in the nasopharynx, an area in the back of the nose toward the base of skull. The nasopharynx is a box-like chamber about 1½ inches on each edge. It lies just above the soft palate, just in back of the entrance into the nasal passages. Although it is considered an oral cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer is different from most oral cancers. It tends to spread widely, is not often treated by surgery, and has different risk factors from most oral cancers.
Several types of tumors can develop in the nasopharynx. Some of these tumors are benign (non-cancerous). Others are malignant (cancerous), and these can penetrate into surrounding tissues and spread to other parts of the body.

Benign nasopharyngeal tumors: Benign tumors of the nasopharynx are relatively rare and tend to occur in children and young adults. They include tumors or malformations of the vascular (blood-carrying system) such as angiofibromas and hemangiomas, and benign tumors of the minor salivary glands that are found within the layers of the nasopharynx. It is important to discuss what type of tumor you might have with your doctor.

Malignant nasopharyngeal tumors: Although other types of cancers can arise from the tissues that make up the nasopharynx, nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most common malignant tumor of the nasopharynx. The remaining sections of this document refer exclusively to NPC.

There are 3 types of NPC: keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (type 1), non-keratinizing carcinoma (type 2); and undifferentiated carcinoma (type 3). The frequency of these different types varies with geographical area. Most NPC in the United States is the keratinizing type. In Southeast Asia, where NPC is much more common, most cases are the undifferentiated type. Although these types look different under a microscope, studies have shown they arise from the same cell type – the lining cell of the nasopharynx. The treatment is also usually the same for all types. How far the NPC has spread locally and throughout the body (stage) is often more important than its type in predicting the outlook for chances of survival (prognosis).

All subtypes of NPC develop from the epithelial cells that cover the surface lining of the nasopharynx. Many nasopharyngeal carcinomas also contain lots of immune system cells, especially lymphocytes. The term lymphoepithelioma is sometimes used to describe an NPC with many immune system cells (lymphocytes) among the cancer cells. The presence of these immune system cells does not usually affect the choice of treatment options. But they may be a clue to developing new treatments since they may represent the body’s attempt to “reject” the tumor.

Lymphomas can also be found in the nasopharynx. They are cancers of immune system cells called lymphocytes, cells that are normally found in the nasopharynx. These cancers are discussed in the American Cancer Society document on "Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Adults."
Adenocarcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma may develop in the minor salivary glands found in the nasopharynx but are more commonly found in the nasal or oral cavities. These minor salivary gland cancers are discussed in the American Cancer Society documents on "Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer" and "Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Cancer."

Latest Research & Treatment for NPC:
Important research into nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is under way in many university hospitals, medical centers, and other institutions around the world. Each year, scientists find out more about what causes the disease, how to prevent it, and how to improve treatment.

Causes: Many studies are being done to learn more about how Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and other risk factors cause cells of the nasopharynx to become cancerous. Researchers are optimistic that these studies may eventually lead to vaccines to prevent NPC by avoiding EBV infection. Recent discoveries concerning EVB, its interaction with nasopharyngeal cells, and the immune system's reaction to EVB have led to new blood tests for early detection of NPC and to better predict the response to treatment. These tests are now being studied in areas of the world where this cancer is common.

Scientists have recently discovered exciting information about how certain mutations (DNA changes) in nasopharyngeal cells cause them to become cancerous. Clinical trials are now testing the possibility of replacing damaged tumor suppressor genes in the cancer cells through gene therapy.

New chemotherapy: Researchers continue to develop new chemotherapy drugs, new drug combinations, and new ways to administer drugs that might be more effective against advanced NPC. Clinical trials are also testing ways to best combine chemotherapy with radiation therapy. For example, studies are comparing the effectiveness of chemotherapy given before, during, or after radiation therapy.

New radiation therapy techniques: Recent advances in radiation therapy have contributed significantly to improving the outlook for patients with NPC. Radiation oncologists can now use 3-dimensional images (obtained by CT or MRI scans) to perform computerized analyses that point out how best to target multiple external and internal radiation sources at the cancer while minimizing exposure of normal tissue to radiation. High cure rate with sparing of the salivary gland to reduce permanent dry mouth has been obtained with Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT).

Other studies are testing the effectiveness of combining several types of radiation beams (photons, electron, etc.). External beam radiation treatments are usually given once a day in one fraction, but studies are now comparing the standard practice to accelerated and hyperfractionated radiation therapy, in which radiation is given faster or in smaller doses each time but to higher total dose.

New surgical techniques: The field of skull base surgery now permits tumor removal from difficult areas such as the nasopharynx. This type of surgery requires a specialized team that has developed expertise in this field. This type of surgery offers hope to patients with recurrent NPC and even patients with small primary keratinizing cancer type.

T Lymphocyte treatment: NPC seems to be in part caused by the EB virus. Although patients can be shown to have immunity to EBV, this doesn't seem to be enough to kill the cancer. To overcome this, researchers removed T lymphocytes from the blood of 10 patients with NPC and manipulated them in the laboratory to increase their numbers and their power to kill EBV virus. The cells were then put back into a series of 10 patients by intravenous injection. Four patients who were in remission remained in remission. Two out of the remaining 6 with advanced NPC had complete disappearance of their tumor and one other had partial disappearance of the tumor. Another patient had stable disease -- no further growth -- and the remaining 2 patients did not benefit.

With Love: Amirul010

Plant That Kill

Careful For All Those Flower Lovers Out There.

This Plant Will Kill Your Dog (And Maybe Your Kids) Beware, you may have this plant at home.

I did some surfing on the net and found this article, i decided to share this piece of information with you guys. Here it goes.

The story i'm about to tell you guys is a true story happened somewhere in the USA, here is how it all began. Last Sunday there's this family who let their dog play outside all day long and upon checking on the dog, they found that he had yanked a small houseplant off of the deck and was chewing on the root of it. He chews on all kinds of plants in the yard and they thought of tossing it over the fence but figured he would just try to dig under to get it so unfortunately they let him keep it.

A couple hours later they let him in the house and he's foaming yellow froth, drooling, and shaking. 20 minutes later they are in the emergency vet and are told the prognosis is not good and he'll likely die. Leaves and male cone of Cycas revolute female reproductive structure. The plant is called a Sago Palm and its highly poisonous to both pets and humans. A chemical in the plant called cycasin is toxic and often causes permanent liver damage as well as neurological damage if enough of the poison is absorbed by the body.

The seeds are the most poisonous part of the plant and the effects on humans are seizures, coma and death. Of course you and I wouldn't just yank off a chunk of this plant and gnaw on it but the seeds are colorful so if you have kids and Sago palm in your yard educate them on the danger or get rid of the plant. Fortunately the dog was one of the lucky ones. They later discovered that their dog vomited the plant in the yard soon after swallowing it, and after 2 days in the vet on IV, and having a ball of charcoal inserted in his stomach, a test revealed that his liver was recovering and he came home. Sadly few people are aware of how dangerous this plant, many have lost their dogs, and even many veterinarians are unaware. This plant doesn't carry a warning label and is becoming popular in Walmart, Lowes, and Home Depot so spread the word.

With Love: Amirul010

Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha To All Muslims

With Love: Amirul010

New Evo

How I wish i could afford this kind of car

With Love: Amirul010

Warning To All Cell Phone Users!!!

Yesterday I recieved this e-mail from my cousin title as "Cell Phone, Don't Ignore" Today i decided to share this piece of information to you guys since most of us are using handphone these days. It's kinda like a must have thing now days which is why i'm sharing the piece of information to you guys. Here it goes...

A few days ago, a person was recharging his cell phone at home. Just at that time a call Came in and he answered it with the Instrument still connected to the outlet. After a few seconds electricity flowed into the cell phone unrestrained and the young man was thrown to the ground with a heavy thud. His parents rushed to the room only to find him unconscious, with a weak heartbeat and burnt fingers. He was rushed to the nearby hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival. Cell phones are a very useful modern invention. However, we must be aware that it can also be an instrument of death. Never use the cell phone while it is hooked to the electrical outlet.

With Love: Amirul010

Deep Vain or Artery Thrombosis

Dear All,

Natural therapy for heart vein opening. Please pass it to your colleagues or friends.For Heart Vein opening.

1) One cup of Lemon juice
2) One cup of Ginger juice
3)One cup of Garlic juice
4) One cup of Apple vinegar. Mix all above and boil in light flame approximately half hour, when it becomes 3 cups, take it out and keep it for cooling.

After cooling, mix 3 cups of natural honey and keep it in bottle.Every morning before breakfast use one Table spoon regularly. Your blockage of Vein's will open (No need any Angiography or By pass)Dear colleagues, I wanted to share an incident with you, hoping that it may be an eye opener to you so that you can live more years.s basically to identify blood flow of heart arteries. When they finished the test they found a 94% block in the main artery, please see the image below with red circle.

Risk Factors

Not doing any physical exercise for more than 10 years , not even walking 30 minutes a day for years.
Food timings are 11:00 AM Breakfast or no Breakfast, 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Lunch and dinner at 11:00 PM to 12:00 AM.Sleeping in very odd timings, going to bed between 12:00 AM and 3:00 AM.
Waking up at between 9:00 AM and 10:30AM ....... Some times spending sleepless nights.
Eatting heavily because of long gaps between lunch and dinner and making sure that Non-Veg is available most of the time.
A chain smoker from years.
Genetic.

Treatment:

Once they identified the major block they have done immediately a procedure called angioplasty along with 2 Stints, mean they will insert a foreign body into the heart arteries and open the blocked area of arteries. Please see the below image after the procedure..Research stated that 60% people will die before reaching the hospital,20% people will die in the process of recovering from heart attack and only 20% will survive .

Doctors instructions
1. Need to have physical exercise for minimum of 45 minutes daily.
2. Eat your food at perfect timings, like how you eat during your school days. Eat in small quantities more times and have lot of vegetables and boiled food, try to avoid fry items and oily food. Fish is good than other non-vegetarian food.
3. Sleep for 8 hours a day, this count should complete before sun rising.
4. Stop smoking.
5. Genetic problems, we cannot avoid but we can get away from it by having regular checkups.
6. Find a way to get relived from the stress (Yoga, Meditation etc).

So I urge you all to please avoid getting into this situation, it is in your hands to turn the situation up side down, by just planning / changing your life style, by following simple points above.If you find it's useful you can try improving your lifestyle for the sake of your friends and loved ones.

Picture taken via Angiogram

With Love: Amirul010