It's Query Time

Well, I'm back from our vacation in Disneyland. More on that later. Two days prior to leaving, I finished another round of Editing for my WIP - Immaculate Conception. The title is growing on me more and more. I do realize, although hesitantly, that I really probably have no control over the title.

I was aiming at around 80,000 words and my final word count ended up being 87,000. The editing process was tricky, but that always seems to be the case with the editing process. Overall, the entire process has been streamlined from my first few experiences at writing and editing.

My work is now out at some beta readers and its growing close to the time to start querying. I've been researching query letters again.  Agent Query or AQ at the webaddress of http://www.agentquery.com/writer_hq.aspx is a really solid resource. I've also been reviewing Query Shark - another great resource.  http://www.queryshark.blogspot.com/.

Query letters appear to be an art form. Traditional letters are typical and safe, but atypical letters can be abstract, genius, or a complete disaster. I am going to go with Traditional.  I've worked and reworked the last 2-3 weeks on the query letter and I hope that I am getting close.

This is an exciting but nervous time.  I'll let you know more as things get going.

Any guesses on this Skin Disease?

Here is a picture of a very difficult skin condition that is often fatal in infants.

It is characterized by diamond shape scales. Infants are at highest risk for infections, dehydration, and breathing difficulties.

Improvements in management and treatment have extended the lives of those with this condition.

The Answer is: Harlequin-type ichthyosis

More about Harlequin-type Ichthyosis:

This is a condition is where the skin of an infant becomes thick and scaly.

The change occurs in the keratin layer of the skin. Large and thick, diamond shaped scales, red in color, can be seen. The scaly nature of the skin causes the infant to have difficulty with movement and respiration.

It is a very rare condition.

Symptoms:

- Severe cranial and facial deformities
- Ears and nose may be absent or poorly developed
- Ectropion [Everted or outward eyelids]
- Dryness of skin
- Thickening of skin
- Large scales
- Scales can be reddish in color
- Arms, feet, fingers can also be deformed
- Polydactyly - more than the usual number of toes or fingers

Cause:

- Mutation in the gene for protein - ABCA12
- This gene helps regulate healthy skin.
- This mutation can be inherited

Areas of skin affected:

1.) Face
2.) Eyes
3.) Ears
4.) Penis
5.) Extremities
6.) Other

Risk Factors

- Increase chance for infection due to cracks in skin
- Cracked Skin
- Dehydration
- Restricted or difficulty breathing
- Difficulty controlling water loss

Treatment

. Isotretinoin [Isotrex]

- Symptomatic treatment
- Treat Dryness
- Treat Infections

Fall in Michigan - wish we could have visited.

My Mom recently sent these photos from Michigan. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to visit them this year. I guess its time to start planning for next year. It would be great to get in some fishing.  Michigan is an interesting place, my parents have retired there. My Dad grew up an hour or more from where they are now living. I could never call it home, but it is a fun place to visit.

Potential New Requirement of Welfare...A Urine Sample

The welfare system may changing - but for better or worse still remains to be seen.


Proposals in almost twenty-five states have shed light on drug testing requirements in order to receive benefits like unemployment assistance, job training, public housing, welfare, food stamps and more.

The concerns by the proponents are that some of the governmental assistance are being misused while others decry this as an attempt at signaling out the poor. States that have already passed such requirements include: Arizona, India, Florida, and Missouri.

At the federal level, Senator David Vitter, a Louisiana Republican, has introduced the Drug Free Families Act of 2011, which would require all 50 states to drug-test welfare applicants.

In Florida, those people receiving cash assistance have had to pay for their own drug tests for the last few months. Enrollment in cash assistance has decreased dramatically. Many argue that the poor are being targeted unfairly has lead to such a decrease, while others praise the new tactics as just and fair. The cost of drug testing is around $40 dollars and the state of Florida has insisted that it will reimburse those who pass. If you fail - you're disqualified for a year. Payments already being sent to children can still continue through another person, like a grandparent.

“Working people today work very hard to make ends meet, and it just doesn't seem fair to them that their tax dollars go to support illegal things,” said Ellen Brandom, a Republican state representative in Missouri.

So far, most proposals for change have failed to win the support needed. This is believed to be the result of concerns about the legality of such proposals.

Kimberley Davis, the director of social services for Operation Breakthrough, said the legislation sent a bad message. “All this does is perpetuate the stereotype that low-income people are lazy, shiftless drug addicts and if all they did was pick themselves up from the bootstraps then the country wouldn't be in the mess it’s in,” Ms. Davis said. Operation Breakthrough provides day care services in Kansas City to low-income women.

Several studies that date back a decade or more indicate that drug use is not solely seen in the poor. In 1996, a report from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism found that there is no significant difference in the rate of illegal-drug use by welfare applicants and other people. Another study found that 70% of illegal-drug users between the age of 18 and 49 are employed full time.

The certainty is that many of these new policies will end up in court to see if indeed they are legal or a constitutional violation. For the time being, a few states will continue to require drug testing for welfare programs. One must ask if this is really a bad thing in the end?

Does this concern you or do you agree. Give us your feedback in the comment section.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2090871,00.html#ixzz1aUKa2mMl

One Person Dies Every Seven Seconds From Diabetes.

It is estimated that one person dies every seven second from diabetes and things continue to get worse. Health officials reported today that an estimated 366 million persons worldwide now suffer from diabetes. The estimated numbers were released in Lisbon, Portugal during the European meeting that had associations with more than 160 countries. Almost 5 million people die each year from this chronic condition.


The International Diabetes Federation have reportedly called for systematic and concrete guidelines to stop this epidemic. In addition, they are signaling a need for this topic to be covered at the United Nations meeting next week.

Type I diabetes largely affect children and young adults. These individuals are unable to make insulin, which is produced from the pancreas pancreas. Type II diabetes is much more common and is often closely affected by obesity. Type II can be described as a decrease in the amount of insulin [Relative Insulin Deficiency] and a difficulty to have the insulin entering the cells [Insulin Resistance].

Complications of Diabetes:

1.) Eye complications

- Retinopathy - a disorder of the retina.
- Loss of eye sight
- Cataracts - 60% more likely to get cataract when diabetic
- Glaucoma - 40% more like to get glaucoma when diabetic

2.) Foot Complications

- Callous, skin changes, Neuropathy, ulcers, and other problems
- Poor circulation and amputations can be seen.

3.) Skin changes

- Increased fungal, bacterial, rashes and other skin changes can be seen.

4.) Heart Disease

- HA1c checks blood sugar - should be monitored and maintained
- Increased Lipids [Cholesterol and Triglycerides need to be maintained.]

5.) Hypertension

6.) Depression and Stress

7.) Ketoacidosis

- Ketones produced when body burns fat instead of glucose
- When a dangerously high levels are seen - can lead to stroke and death.

8.) Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome (HHNS)

- Elevated blood sugar levels rise dangerously - rare but serious condition

9.) Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)

10.) Kidney Disease (Nephropathy)

- High blood sugar can overwork the kidneys, causing them to stop working properly.

11.) Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

- Blood vessels in the legs are narrowed or blocked by fatty deposits and blood flow to your feet and legs decreases.

- Increased risk for heart attack and stroke

12.) Stroke

New Help in the Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer

Research is looking into the distinct possibility that there may be a tumor marker in the blood of those with ovarian cancer . Early diagnosis of this cancer can be very difficult. As it advances it becomes harder and harder to treat. New research hopes the answers are in the blood.

The research is taking place in Chicago at the Rush University Medical Center. Initial research was intriguing though additional studies are required before anything is certain.

Antibodies, found on the surface of ovarian cancer cells, were found in the blood of most of the women with ovarian cancer. These antibodies were also found with women who had previously known ovarian problems - but not necessarily cancer. Women with normal ovarian function and no ovarian cancer were found to not have this antibody.

Typical treatment of ovarian cancer is to removed the uterus completely. This is usually done because the cancer is in an advanced stage. Single ovary removal along with the fallopian tubes can also be seen. Following surgery chemotherapy is a possibility. Radiation is rarely used as a treatment.

If the cancer is diagnosed early - the fiver year survival is very high. If not, the survival rate is far lower.

This post was first seen at:  www.iahealth.net/diagnosis-of-ovarian-cancer-may-get-easier-with-a-blood-test

A must is a must!

I would feel horrible if I didn't talk about the ongoing writeoncon. It is all taking place on line. Some of the topics for today have been really exciting. If you haven't yet taken the time - here is the link - http://writeoncon.com/

There are certainly a few more things tonight and then a full day's schedule tomorrow. The great things are that some of the ideas or concepts dig deep into personal preferences of many of the agents and writers putting on their portion. Some of the classes are live - you can ask your question and get a fast response.
Tonight there is an exciting panel of professionals - this is a live event and worth checking out.

And don't worry - if you can't make it live - just check out some of the things written on the website or forum. It looks fantastic