PEOPLE OF THE WORLD - The world's grumpiest cities

The world's grumpiest cities

Check out the 10 grumpiest cities according to Conde Nast Traveler magazine's Readers' 

Choice Survey.

10.  Nassau, Bahamas – Score: 63.6

       Sure, Nassau has glorious beaches and top-notch bars, but readers found some areas felt
       “unsafe” or even “depressing”.

9.   Monte Carlo, Monaco — Score: 63.0

      It’s famous for the legendary Formula One hairpin, not to mention extreme wealth and glitzy
      casinos, but Conde Nast readers are less than impressed with the “ostentatious” vibe.

8.   Milan, Italy — Score: 62.9

      Milan may be a pillar of fashion, but visitors reckon it’s a city lacking in basic Italian
      friendliness and hospitality. A little harsh perhaps?

7.   Frankfurt, Germany — Score: 61.7

      Frankfurt seems to have left a foul taste in the mouths of some readers, with one saying the
      people are “very rude” and another saying “Everyone seemed cold, except the tourists”.

6.   Beijing, China — Score: 61.4

      While it’s hard to deny Beijing is a fascinating city, many visitors find the terrible pollution,
      dirty streets and horrendous traffic outweigh the charms.

5.   Marseilles, France — Score: 60.9 

      Picturesque Marseille is beautiful, no doubt, but Conde Nast readers rated it unfriendly
      because of the “unsavoury” areas and threatening atmosphere.

4.   Paris, France — Score: 60.8

      It’s known as one of the most romantic cities in the world, but also has a reputation for
      being downright rude. “Don’t count on friendliness,” warned one Conde Nast reader.

3.   Moscow, Russia — Score: 59.6

      Moscow has some of the most colourful works of architecture in the world – and that’s
      why people visit. Certainly it’s not for the “unfriendly people,” readers seem to agree.

2.   Cannes, France — Score: 58.5

      Everyone knows Cannes because of its star-studded annual film festival, but many visitors
      find when they actually get there themselves, they’re underwhelmed and uninspired. One
      reader describes the locals as “disappointing and unfriendly”. Ouch!

1.   Johannesburg, South Africa — Score: 56.1 

      Ongoing concerns for safety are what put Johannesburg at the top of this list! Readers
      found despite it being among the world’s “most beautiful” cities, they found it dangerous
      and intimidating.

Source: https://my.news.yahoo.com

HEALTH INFO - 5 Viruses That Are Scarier Than Ebola

By By Elizabeth Palermo, Staff Writer | LiveScience.com – Sat, Aug 16, 2014

The Ebola virus has now killed more than 1,000 people in West Africa. Although the mortality rate of the most recent outbreak isn't as high as in previous events, it's still the case that most people who become infected with Ebola will not survive. (The mortality rate is about 60 percent for the current outbreak, compared with 90 percent in the past, according to the National Institutes of Health.)

But despite this somber prognosis, health experts in the United States aren't particularly worried about the threat of Ebola in this countryor in other developed countries.

"I see Ebola as a significant threat in the specific regions that it has been identified in, certainly central and west Africa," said Cecilia Rokusek, a public health expert with Nova Southeastern University's Institute for Disaster and Emergency Preparedness in Florida. "But in my opinion, it's not an imminent threat for those in the United States." 

Indeed, other viruses pose a larger threat to U.S. citizens, according to Rokusek.

Although some of these viruses have far lower mortality rates than that of Ebola, they are more prevalent in developed nations, and kill more people annually than Ebola does. Here are five viruses that are just as dangerous (if not more so) than Ebola:

Rabies

Over the past 100 years, rabies has declined significantly as a public health threat in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately two people now die yearly in the United States from this virus, which is transmitted to people through saliva when they are bitten by infected animals, such as dogs or bats.

People who know they have been bitten by an animal should receive the rabies vaccine, which prevents infection by the virus, according to the CDC. But, especially in the case of bat bites, people may not always realize they have been bitten.

And rabies has one of the highest fatality rates of any virus; only three people in the United States are known to have ever survived the disease without receiving the vaccine after exposure to the virus.

Still, the disease remains a greater threat in other areas of the world than in the United States. Approximately 55,000 people die of rabies every year in Africa and Asia, according to the WHO.

HIV

Though the number of annual deaths related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has declined in recent years, an estimated 1.6 million people worldwide died of HIV and autoimmune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) related causes in 2012, according to the WHO. The virus attacks a person's immune cells and weakens the immune system over time, making it very difficult for the infected individual to fight off other diseases.

About 15,500 people with an AIDS diagnosis died in 2010 in the United States, according to the CDC. In total, an estimated 650,000 people have died of AIDS in the United States since the disease was discovered in 1981. An estimated 36 million people have died worldwide from the epidemic.

Today, people with HIV do live longer than they used to, a trend that coincides with the increased availability of antiretroviral therapy, as well as the decline in new infections since the peak of the AIDS epidemic in 1997. However, no cure for HIV exists.

Influenza

The flu may not sound very scary, but it kills far more people every year than Ebola does. The exact number of people who die each year from seasonal flu virus is the subject of much debate, but the CDC puts the average number of annual deaths in the United States somewhere between 3,000 and 49,000.

The large variation in yearly deaths arises because many flu deaths are not reported as such, so the CDC relies on statistical methods to estimate the number. Another reason for this wide range is that annual flu seasons vary in severity and length, depending on what influenza viruses are most prominent. In years when influenza A (H3N2) viruses are prominent, death rates are typically more than double what they are in seasons when influenza A (H1N1) or influenza B viruses predominate, according to the CDC.

A highly contagious virus, influenza sickens far more people than it kills, with an estimated 3 million to 5 million people becoming seriously ill yearly from influenza viruses. Worldwide, the flu causes an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 deaths every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Despite the relatively low mortality rate of the virus, public health professionals and doctors recommend annual flu shots to keep the risk of complications from influenza at bay.

"Healthy people should get their vaccines every year," Rokusek told Live Science. "Studies have shown that the flu vaccine is an effective preventative measure."

But flu vaccines, which offer immunity from influenza A and B viruses, do not protect against other forms of influenza, which can arise when the virus undergoes genetic changes. New strains of the flu result in higher than average mortality rates globally. The most recent influenza pandemic, the "swine flu" or H1N1 pandemic, killed between 151,700 and 575,400 people globally during 2009 and 2010,according to the CDC.

Mosquito-borne viruses

Spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, viruses such as dengue, West Nile and yellow fever kill more than 50,000 people worldwide every year, according to estimates by the WHO and the CDC. (Malaria — which is also spread by mosquitos, but is caused by a parasite rather than a virus — kills more than 600,00 people yearly.)

At least 40 percent of the world's population, or about 2.5 billion people, are at risk of serious illness and death from mosquito-borne viral diseases, according to the CDC.

Dengue fever, which is endemic to parts of South America, Mexico, Africa and Asia, claims approximately 22,000 lives every year, according to the CDC. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a deadly infection that causes high fevers and can lead to septic shock.

These diseases occur in regions neighboring the United States, making them a threat in this country.

"Dengue is very active in the Caribbean, and travelers to the Caribbean come back to the United States with dengue," said Dr. Robert Leggiadro, a New York physician and professor of biology at Villanova University in Pennsylvania. 

People infected with dengue while traveling abroad can spread the disease at home when mosquitos bite them, and then bite other people, Leggiadro said.

Even more deadly than dengue is yellow fever, which mostly affects people in Latin America and Africa. The disease causes an estimated 30,000 deaths worldwide, according to the WHO.

Less deadly, but still dangerous is West Nile virus, a viral neurological disease that is spread by mosquitos that bite humans after feasting on birds infected with the virus. Although the vast majority of people infected with this virus will not show symptoms of West Nile, the disease has killed an estimated 1,200 people in the United States since it was first seen here in 1999, according to the CDC.

Rotavirus

Not everyone is at high risk of contracting rotavirus, but for children around the world, this gastrointestinal virus is a very serious problem. Approximately 111 million cases of gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus are reported every year globally, according to the CDC. The vast majority of those affected by the virus are children under the age of 5, and about 82 percent of deaths associated with the virus occur in children in developing nations.

Globally, an estimated 440,000 children who contract the virus die each year from complications, namely dehydration. In the United States, a vaccine for rotavirus was developed in 1998, but was later recalled due to safety concerns. A newer vaccine, developed in 2006, is now available and is recommended for children ages 2 months and older.

Despite routine vaccinations for rotavirus in the United States, the CDC estimates that between 20 and 60 children under age 5 die every year from untreated dehydration caused by the virus.

While some parents in the United States have expressed concern about the complications that may arise as a result of vaccinating for rotavirus, Leggiadro told Live Science that vaccination for this and other preventable diseases is the best way to safeguard against diseases that, if left untreated, can be deadly.

Source: https://my.news.yahoo.com

MODERN WORLD - Top 10 Most Developed Countries in the World

Article by Maruthappan, January 23, 2014

We do all know that developed nation is a country which has highly developed economy and advancement in most of the scientific fields. The development of a nation is measured by a scale known as Human Development Index. It was developed by United Nations Development Program which is a wing of United Nations. And this is formulated by our Indian economist Amartya Sen and Pakistani economist Mahbu Ul Huh. It compares various aspects such as standard of living, percentage of literate people, life expectancy and quality of life. If we have to explain HDI in terms of economic terms, then it could be defined as the relation between the Gross Domestic Product, Per Capita Income and level of Industrialization.

Based on this index, countries will be classified as: Very High Human Development, High Human Development, Medium Human Development and Low Human Development. Every year Human Development Index would be calculated (expect the year of 2012). They would be compared with the previous year index. It shows the development of the country. Currently this method of calculation is criticized by many economists. As per their view, this is a more vague and inaccurate method. If I am going to come up with my own way of calculation and rank index, it would be inappropriate. Therefore I am opting for the method developed by UNDP, that is , Human Development Index. Here comes the list of top ten developed countries.

10. Japan:

Well, the list starts with an Asian country. Actually Japan has gained two positions over the last year HDI index. This is also one of the top three developed economies in the Asian region. We do all that this is the ‘third largest economy’ in terms of GDP. In the year of 2010, it lost its number 2nd position to China. This growth is attributed to their advancements in the infrastructure and technology field. Hydro power, Industrial Robotics, Chemical, Automobile and Machinery. These are few of the fields in which this Island Nation leads the world through their advancement in technology. To mention about their infrastructure, they do make use of natural gas, water and nuclear power to generate the electricity required. They had also established themselves as one of the nations with high life expectancy and low morality rate. Their HDI index is 0.912

9. Switzerland:

Switzerland is one of the richest nations of the world with having highest wealth per adult. Its cities Geneva and Zurich has been ranked as the 2nd and 8th highest quality of life in the world. This also has the highest ‘Economic Freedom Index’ among other European nations. Though Switzerland is not much technologically advanced as compared to Japan, it leads Japan in terms of Highly Developed status. The reason behind this could be their development in trade, tourism, industry and agriculture. This country is one of the most stable economies. It is attributed to their political stability. Because of this they are able to attract large number of foreign investors. Their HDI index is 0.913

8. Sweden:

Country which borders between Norway and Finland is one of most developed countries in the world. Millions of tourists visit this country year after year. This is because since ancient times, Sweden has preferred peace over war. It is one of the countries which believe in environmental friendliness and ‘Go Green’ is one of the most famous policies formulated by the Sweden government. Its growth is attributed to the factors such as trade, industry and agriculture. Sweden’s economy is the 8th largest exporter among all the countries of the world. It is the home for 20 largest companies of the world such as Volvo, Ericsson, Sony Ericsson mobile communications and Electrolux. Recent survey showed that this country ranked the highest in telephone and internet connections. The HDI index is 0.916

7. Ireland:

Country with the least population, say nearly 4.5 million people, is on the rapid developing phase. Nearly 99% of the people are educated and their life expectancy is 79 years. All these things made multinational companies to invest in Ireland. That is the major reason for the development of Ireland. In the early 1990’s there was a great change in consumer spending and construction & infrastructure. This period is known as Celtic Tiger period. The growth gradually increased till the year of 2007. Then it changed its direction. Hence Ireland entered in a period of recession. It exited from the same in 2010 by borrowing money from International Monetary Fund nearly € 85 Billion. Their HDI index as given by UNDP is 0.916

6. New Zealand:

New Zealand is a group of some remote islands. Life expectancy for an average citizen is 80.9 years. It is a great tourist destination. Since it contains a beautiful landscape and flourishing flora& fauna, it attracts flocks of tourists every year. Besides tourism, industries and trade also contributed to the growth of New Zealand. Various products such as gold, kauri gum, timber products were manufactured and exported. Nation suffered from higher economic depression during 1981 and 1982 due to the Oil crisis and Energy crisis. Then several governments engaged with various economic reforms, known as Regronomics, and brought back situation to control by 1984. From then this island country grow slowly and steadily. Their HDI index is 0.919.

5. Germany:

Country having the largest population among the European countries (83 million) holds the position 3 in the Highly Developed status among its European counterparts. The literacy rate among the representative of the government is 99% (stunning!). We do all know that Germans are known for their high skilled force and low level of corruption.  Germany serves as the headquarters of many Multinational companies like Volkswagon, Daimler, Siemens and BMW. This is one of the hot tourist spot destinations and they are known for their marvelous buildings, inner architecture, and rich bio diversity. Their HDI index is 0.920. In the previous index, they stood at 8th rank and now they accelerated to this position.

4. Netherlands:

This is the second highly developed European economy. The people of Netherlands have been reported as the happiest people in the world having low taxes, less corruption, high education standards and good health care facilities. Like many other developed countries, they do offer good support for the growth of industries. Some of the leading sectors of this country’s economy are shipping, banking, trade and fishing. Electrical, chemical, machinery and metallurgy industries flourished here. Some of them are Unilever, Philips, ING and Heineken. Their HDI index is 0.921. Last year they stood at 3rd position and now they have descended in to 4th position.

3. United States:

Literally this is the Capital of the world. The famous proverb “When America sneeze, whole world catches cold” was proved again by the year of 2008. As America is spiraled down by massive debts, the exports of whole world reached its new down level and it resulted in global recession. It is reported that life expectancy of Americans are considerably lowering due to obesity. Nearly one third of the children in U.S. suffer from obesity. Despite all this, still it rocks. Yes, I am right. The cultural diversity rating of the country is one of the highest in the world. They do have the trading alliance with almost every country in the world. They are the hub of automobile, chemical, food and beverages industry.  Their HDI index is 0.937 and by the last year they stood at number 4 position.

2. Australia:

Australia is ranked Number 1 in many factors (considered for HDI index) such as literacy rate, low corruption level, high quality of life, economic freedom and civil rights. The most stable government is offered to the people of Australia and this also makes them one of the happiest individuals in the world. This is one of the countries with high per capita income and low level of poverty. Three cities of Australia featured in the top 10 list of world’s most livable cities. Their HDI index is 0.938 and by the last year they were at the same level.

1. Norway:

Norway is the highly developed country among all the countries of the world. The government of Norway serves its people with higher level of education, lower corruption level, lower unemployment rate, higher standard of living and higher life expectancy (about 80.3 years). A question arises by what means this is possible? One should remember that Norway has one of the largest natural resources such as petroleum, seafood, natural gas and metallic ores. Banking, Metallic production and Foods & Beverages are few of the sectors which flourished well in Norway. Their HDI index is 0.955 and they are maintaining their Rank 1 for the past 9 years.

Source: http://listdose.com

WORLD - Top Ten Countries with Largest Muslim Population

Top Ten Countries with Largest Muslim Population

Rank	Country	Capital	Estimated 2010 Muslim Population	% of World Muslim Population
1	Indonesia	Jakarta	209,120,000	13.1
2	India	New Delhi	176,190,000	11
3	Pakistan	Islamabad	167,410,000	10.5
4	Bangladesh	Dhaka	133,540,000	8.4
5	Nigeria	Abuja	77,300,000	4.8
6	Egypt	Cairo	76,990,000	4.8
7	Iran	Teheran	73,570,000	4.6
8	Turkey	Ankara	71,330,000	4.5
9	Algeria	Algiers	34,730,000	2.2
10	Morocco	Rabat	31,940,000	2

(Population estimates are rounded to the ten thousands. Percentages are calculated from unrounded numbers. Figures may not add exactly due to rounding).

SOURCE: Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life •Global Religious Landscape, December 2012.


The second largest religion in the world, Islam has a total of about 1.62 billion members, or 23 percent of the entire world's population. About 49 countries have a Muslim majority, although Africa is the only continent with a Muslim majority. Most of the world's Muslim population lives inSouth Asia, particularly the countries of Indonesia, Pakistan, and India.

Over 88 percent of Indonesia's population follows Islam, and 96.4 percent of the population of Pakistan is Muslim. Countries nearing 100 percent Islamic populations include Morocco, Somalia, Afghanistan, Tunisia, Iran, and Western Sahara.

Source: http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-ten/world-top-ten-countries-with-largest-muslim-populations-map.htm

EXTREME - Worlds Largest Holes

GREAT FACTS - Top 10 Beautiful yet very Deadly Things

Article by lipika bhattacharya, January 20, 2014

Over the years of evolution, nature has witnessed the nexus and extinction of many of its own creations. Some pretty, some not very beautiful and some are simply dangerous. However there is a class which includes the beautiful yet deadly beings. They can be animals, carnivorous plants, simple plants and even the most exotic flowers of one of their kind. What you should do when you are out swimming or camping, is to stay away from them or use the necessary safety gears while handling. For you don’t want to fall sick and ruin your holidays or worse even fight for your life. As the popular saying goes looks can be deceiving, you should really not think of touching and cuddling with them till you get a clear picture of the one before you. From a tree that can make you go blind, flowers that kill bees, animals that injure you for lifetime to the most surprising being of all, read along. These are anything, but innocent.

10. Dingo

Let us just adopt him. Seriously, look at him, those eyes, that playful grin, lush brown fur. Anyone would want to pet them in a heartbeat. This adorable little thing with a funny name is no match to your crossbred dog. It is wild, untamed and feral in all respects. A dangerous and unpredictable animal, dingo travels in packs. It kills by biting the throat and has many hunting strategies. Do not pet a dingo. It may look all cute and delightful but this is not your pet dog.

9. Siberian chipmunks

Chipmunks are rodents akin to squirrels, native to North America and Asia. The chipmunks are known for their peculiar habit of bursting into a harmonious melody on hearing a musical instrument like piano. True they are known for their aggressive nature, but their aggression is limited to only snatching a food item from your hands. But what is deadly about them is harboring a disease. They are known throughout the world for bringing Lyme disease through ticks and rabies. It can be treated but the detection remains a major issue even today. If there is a lapse of time, the patient can suffer from coma and in extreme cases of heart and neurological issues, die.

8. Doll’s eyes

Doll’s eyes-how can plant with a name so sweet be dangerous at all? Eat it and you will be praying for your life. The green leaves, dainty white flowers make for a wonderful sight. But the berries don’t. They look like the eyes of a rag doll, hence name. These white berries contain a cardiogenic toxin which induces sedation in human cardiac muscles. In small quantities, they cause intense mouth pain. If taken in large amount, they can prove to be fatal.

7. Bottle-nosed Dolphins

You heard it right, yeah! They are intelligent, communicate well, play tricks, learn quickly and can use their fins effectively as hands. In fact they save humans! Swimming with dolphins is considered to be a relaxing exercise, attributed to a dolphin’s smiling face, their cute eyes or playful nature. Then why deadly? Dolphins are violent, even known to kill and thereby play with the carcasses of their dead young and porpoises. This is done when the dolphins just want to have a little fun. Male dolphins particularly show aggression when a female is involved, be it human or their species! Sexual competition drives the dolphins into even drowning their female mates. There have been quite a few reports on such incidents. Swimmers are warmed to stay away from them, as when they get sexually aroused, they become rough. They often isolate the women swimmers who might not be able to escape from the heavy creatures and ultimately drown.

6. Manchineel tree

The name manchineel was given to this plant as it resembles apple tree, be its fruits or leaves. However the manchineel is called the little apple of death! Its milky white sap contains phorbol, a toxin and other such skin irritants. You don’t want to stand under this tree for shade when it rains, if you don’t want blisters all over your body. It is so poisonous that its burning can cause immediate blinding. No wonder these tress are marked with a big ‘X’ or warning sign in red. The potential sap of this tree was used in historian times to poison the arrows. Ingestion of its fruits can produce severe gastroenteritis with bleeding and bacterial super infection.

5. Cone snail

Beautiful shell, isn’t it? The snail underneath is an afterthought and that is what backfires. The cone snail is known for its beautiful shell and that is what attracts the collectors and poachers. On being picked up by its shell, the snail will stick its harpoon into the person. The kind of effect will depend on the snail’s poison as each one has its distinct. The poison contains a neurotic element which can temporarily paralyze you. Severe respiratory problems will start developing and the body will ultimately shut down due to the nervous breakdown. It is advised that if you are stung by a cone snail, immediate CPR should be performed or else risk dying. In extreme cases, full blood transfusions might be necessary to get the poison out of the system. Shell-diving, anyone?

4. Deadly nightshade

The deadly nightshade or belladonna is native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia. One of the most poisonous plants in the eastern hemisphere, the foliage and the berries contain potentially lethal tropane alkaloids. Since ages, it has been used as a poison causing delirium and hallucinations. Almost all the parts of the plant contain this alkaloid but the berries are the most lethal. They look beautiful and are sweet in taste which often attracts the children. Belladonna poisoning can be detected by dilated pupils, blurred vision, staggering, headache, rashes, dry mouth and throat, hallucinations and convulsions. The plant contains a drug atropine which slows down the nervous system and hampers the cognitive activities. However it has some medicinal benefits as well such as pain-reliever, muscle relaxer and anti-inflammatory drugs. A devil in disguise!

3. Yellow-bellied sea snake

The yellow bellies sea snake is famous for its beauty as well as beastly behavior. Since it is found in the sea and active during the day, you will find it a lot. Can you believe it that one drop of its venom can kill three grown men? Poisoner than a cobra do you think, well no. Its unique ability lies in the concentration and toxicity of its venom. It will attack your muscles, respiratory system and all you would wish for is death. But the effect on muscles takes about an hour and a half; hence the pain will slowly come into effect. Even after the anti-venom is injected into the body, the pain will not subside immediately. Deaths due to yellow-bellied’s bite are the roughest and simply unimaginable. There have been instances where the affected people have complained of severe muscle aches many weeks after the treatment. Say what, ouch!

2. Poison dart frogs

Okay, now frogs are not beautiful agreed. But this species is particularly known for its multitude display of colors on its skin. The poison dart frogs are some of the most beautiful creatures attributed to their pretty, radiant patterns. It is a pity we can’t call them beautiful enough due to their lethality. The distinct feature which makes them stand out among the rest of the not so good-looking frogs is associated with their toxicity and alkaloid levels. The story behind its name is quite literal in its meaning. Tribes have used their secretions to make poison darts for hundreds of years. However the catch lies in the fact, that immediate contact will not be lethal. It will only make you sick until the poison reaches your blood stream. It is beautiful when it is only deadly.

1. Australian box jellyfish

Box jellyfish, sea wasp or marine stingers are the most common names given to this uniquely shaped jellyfish. It has a cubical umbrella unlike the other jellyfish and almost transparent. This shape and structure helps them to move faster than other jellyfish. Divers beware! If you see it or even if you don’t, don’t go about touching it to satisfy your inquisitions. The box jellyfish has been called the world’s most venomous creature. It has up to 60 tentacles, each about 15 feet long. Want to know the number of people it can kill with its venom? Sixty people, yeah you read it right! The good news is not every species in this class is fatal, but the bad news is, they hunt.

Source: http://listdose.com

HEALTH INFO - 11 Surprising Facts About the Endocrine System

By Joseph Castro, Contributing writer


The endocrine system

The body's hormones, and the glands that produce them, make up the endocrine system. There are eight major glands, and their job is to regulate the body's metabolism, reproduction, growth and sleep.

Like the nervous system, the endocrine system is an information signal system. But rather than using neurons, it uses chemical messengers called hormones, each of which has its own unique function.

Here are 11 interesting facts that may surprise you about the endocrine system, its glands and its hormones.

Traditional Chinese healers practiced endocrinology more than 2,000 years ago

Endocrinology is the branch of biology and medicine that focuses on the endocrine system, and although the terms "endocrine" and "endocrinology" didn't come into common usage until the 1800s, the study of endocrinology can be traced back to China over 2,000 years ago, according to American author Robert K. G. Temple in his book, "The Genius of China: 3,000 Years of Science, Discovery, and Invention" (Prion, 1998).

As far back as 200 B.C., Chinese healers extracted sex and pituitary hormones from human urine using the sulfate mineral gypsum and the chemical compound saponin (derived from the seeds of a flowering plant). They used these extracts for medicinal purposes.

The endocrine system is sometimes at fault for osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a common disease in aging people, and makes bones less dense and more prone to fractures. Nearly one in 10 older adults in the U.S. has the disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Though osteoporosis is often thought of as strictly a bone disorder, it often falls under the treatment of endocrinologists because of its underlying causes. In particular, postmenopausal women sometimes develop the disease because of their low levels of the hormone estrogen, which helps to maintain bone mass. In such cases, osteoporosis may be treated with hormone replacement therapy.

The condition can also arise as a result of other endocrine disorders, such as hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). People with such conditions are considered to have "secondary osteoporosis."

The term "hormone" is only about a century old

In the 1800s, scientists began to think that some sort of chemical communication must take place between different organs in the body, and they later recognized that certain disorders could be treated with extracts from endocrine tissues. But the term "hormone" wasn't coined until the early 1900s.

In 1902, English physiologists William Bayliss and Ernest Starling concluded that chemicals — which they later named hormones — controlled the secretions of the pancreas. This idea ran contrary to the prevailing view that neural reflexes triggered the secretions. (Scientists later discovered that both hormonal and neural processes played a role in pancreatic secretions).

The new term sparked intense research on the endocrine system in the first half of the 20th century, and scientists fervently worked to identify and understand the various hormones in the body.

Not all hormones come from the endocrine system

The eight hormone-secreting glands of the endocrine system are the adrenal gland, hypothalamus, pancreas, parathyroid gland, pineal gland, pituitary gland, reproductive glands (ovaries and testes) and thyroid gland. But some other organs and tissues that are not generally considered part of the endocrine system also produce and secrete hormones.

For instance, the placenta of a pregnant woman secretes a few hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. And the stomach releases the hunger-inducing hormone ghrelin and the hormone gastrin, which stimulates the secretion of gastric acid.

Diabetes was once diagnosed by tasting urine

Diabetes — a disease in which the pancreas stops producing insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels — is the most common endocrine disorder in the U.S., affecting about 8 percent of the population, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Today, physicians use blood tests to diagnose the disease, but a different method was once common. 

The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (c. 460-377 B.C.), the "Father of Medicine," was the first physician known to diagnose diabetes mellitus, according to a 2000 article in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. His technique: tasting his patients' urine for a distinct sweetness.

The pancreas bridges two worlds

There are two types of glands in the body: exocrine and endocrine. Exocrine glands — which include the salivary glands, sweat glands and mammary glands — excrete their products through ducts. Endocrine glands, by contrast, release their products (hormones) without ducts, directly into the bloodstream.

The pancreas has both endocrine and exocrine functions. On one hand, it releases a number of hormones, including insulin and glucagon, into the bloodstream. But it also secretes a pancreatic juice that contains important digestive enzymes via ducts into the small intestine.

Alcohol has widespread effects on the endocrine system

It's well known that alcohol can affect your health in a number of ways, such as decreasing your risk of heart disease and stroke (if consumed in low doses) and damaging your liver. But scientists have known for decades that alcohol also has widespread effects on the endocrine system.

For example, alcohol can impair the regulation of blood-sugar levels by interfering with certain hormones, reduce testosterone levels in men by damaging the testes and increase the risk of osteoporosis by messing with a calcium-regulating hormone called parathyroid hormone, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Dogs were once an important part of endocrine research

In the late 19th century and early 20th century, many endocrine-system studies were conducted on dogs, rather than on more typical lab animals, such as mice and guinea pigs.

In 1889, German physiologist Oskar Minkowski and German physician Josef von Mering induced diabetes in dogs by removing their pancreases. Five years later, English physiologist Sir Edward Albert Sharpey-Schafer and English physician George Oliver took extracts from the adrenal glands of dogs and injected them into other dogs, which resulted in hypertension and rapid heartbeat (because of the adrenaline present in the injected substances).

Dogs were even the test subjects in the 1902 landmark study that led to the coining of the term "hormone."

An early endocrinologist attempted hormone replacement therapy on himself

In 1849, German physiologist and zoologist Arnold Adolph Berthold noticed that roosters' combs regressed and that they lost their inclination to crow, fight and mate if he castrated them. However, reimplanting their testes reversed these effects.

Berthold concluded that the testes excreted a substance that affected the blood; the blood, in turn, acted upon the rest of the body.

Fifty years later, endocrinologist Charles-Édouard Brown-Séquard took this idea to the next level. He injected himself with extracts from dog and guinea-pig testes in a pioneering attempt at a kind of hormone replacement therapy. In the journal The Lancet, the 72-year-old scientist reported that the treatment rejuvenated him, restoring his strength, digestive functions and "intellectual labor."

However, the effects were fleeting, and most experts now view Brown-Séquard's rejuvenation as the result of the placebo effect.

Stress kicks the endocrine system into high gear

In response to stress, the endocrine system quickly secretes various hormones at higher-than-normal levels in order to help the body mobilize more energy and adapt to new circumstances.

For example, the pituitary-adrenal axis starts releasing adrenaline to increase the volume of blood pumped out by the heart and the blood flowing to the skeletal muscles. And during acute physical stress, the pituitary gland may also ramp up the secretion of the growth hormone, which enhances metabolic activity.

But prolonged or frequent stressful events can lead to a number of endocrine disorders, including Graves' disease, gonadal dysfunction and obesity, according to a 2011 article in the Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Plants produce hormones without an endocrine system

Unlike humans and other animals, plants do not have an endocrine system or endocrine glands. But they do have hormones, which affect various processes related to plant growth, including gene expression, metabolism and cell division.

Plant cells sometimes produce hormones to use locally, but they may also transport the chemicals to other areas using specialized elongated cells or other means.

Knowing that plants use hormones to guide their growth, agriculturalists have been using hormonelike chemicals called "plant growth regulators" since the 1930s to improve or otherwise modify the growth of their crops, according to University of Florida agronomist Frederick Fishel.

Source: http://www.livescience.com