Black Licorice and Pregnancy

http://cms.herbalgram.org/herbclip/390/review110391-390.html

Child diabetes blamed on fructose.

Child diabetes blamed on food sweetener - Times Online: "Scientists have proved for the first time that a cheap form of sugar used in thousands of food products and soft drinks can damage human metabolism and is fuelling the obesity crisis.

Fructose, a sweetener derived from corn, can cause dangerous growths of fat cells around vital organs and is able to trigger the early stages of diabetes and heart disease."

Diabetes and Its Awful Toll Quietly Emerge as a Crisis - New York Times

Diabetes and Its Awful Toll Quietly Emerge as a Crisis - New York Times: "An estimated 800,000 adult New Yorkers - more than one in every eight - now have diabetes, and city health officials describe the problem as a bona fide epidemic. Diabetes is the only major disease in the city that is growing, both in the number of new cases and the number of people it kills. And it is growing quickly, even as other scourges like heart disease and cancers are stable or in decline."

Vitamin D update

The research papers presented at a Vitamin D conference in Toronto last month are now published online. The latest Vitamin D information is so compelling the Canadian Cancer Society has actually begun endorsing Vitamin D as a cancer-prevention therapy.

Vitamin D for Cancer Prevention: Global Perspective

Ecological Studies Of Ultraviolet B, Vitamin D And Cancer Since 2000

Associations Between Polymorphisms in the Vitamin D Receptor and Breast Cancer Risk

Protein engineering advancing Alzheimer’s research

Protein engineering advancing Alzheimer’s research

A Small Part of the Brain, and Its Profound Effects - New York Times

A Small Part of the Brain, and Its Profound Effects - New York Times: "The recent news about smoking was sensational: some people with damage to a prune-size slab of brain tissue called the insula were able to give up cigarettes instantly"

Vitamin A and emphysema

For smokers or those exposed to second-hand smoke, research suggests that vitamin A can protect you against the effects and damage caused by smoking. Richard Baybutt, an associate professor of nutrition at Kansas State University, made a surprising discovery: a common carcinogen in cigarette smoke, benzo(a)pyrene, induces vitamin A deficiency. In some of his earlier research, Baybutt had shown that laboratory animals fed a vitamin A-deficient diet developed emphysema. His latest animal studies indicate that not only does the benzo(a)pyrene in cigarette smoke cause vitamin A deficiency, but that a diet rich in vitamin A can help counter this effect, thus greatly reducing emphysema.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10801913

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URHhyP4lmQ4

Flu shot girl.

The Gut Response To What We Eat

"A high-fat, high-sugar diet can quickly and dramatically change the population of microbes living in the digestive tract, according to a new study of human gut bugs transplanted into mice."

Preventing Gallstones

Maybe it's as easy as drinking your OJ and going for a run!

http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/160/7/931
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/69/1/120

Why Sleepyheads Forget

"...scientists have discovered that lost sleep disrupts a specific molecule in the brain's memory circuitry, possibly leading to treatments for tired brains."

Microbes ‘R’ Us - Olivia Judson Blog - NYTimes.com

Microbes ‘R’ Us - Olivia Judson Blog - NYTimes.com: "The typical human is home to a vast array of microbes. If you were to count them, you’d find that microbial cells outnumber your own by a factor of 10."

Knee analysis for personal identification

It seems the knees may be different enough between individuals be used for personal identification. However, this shouldn't be at all surprising. I'm sure that every macroscopic structure in a given person's body - be it an organ,  joint, whatever - is unique in its detailed appearance. It's just that the knee has internal features that are a little easier to record than most structures.

Stem Cells from Fat Used to Grow Teen's Missing Facial Bones: Scientific American

Stem Cells from Fat Used to Grow Teen's Missing Facial Bones: Scientific American

Rare disease turns 3-year-old’s muscles to bone
Parents try to give him a normal childhood, though every bruise is a danger
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Boy fights disease that turns muscle into bone Oct. 15: TODAY’s chief medical editor, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, reports on a young boy who is fighting a rare and disabling genetic disease that turns muscle and tissue into bone. The boy, Joshua, and his parents, Stacy and David Scoble, talk with TODAY’s Ann Curry.
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Boy fights disease that turns muscle into bone Oct. 15: TODAY’s chief medical editor, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, reports on a young boy who is fighting a rare and disabling genetic disease that turns muscle and tissue into bone. The boy, Joshua, and his parents, Stacy and David Scoble, talk with TODAY’s Ann Curry.
Moore and Ratigan face off on big bonuses
Boy wonder! One-legged child is sports phenom
Boys charged for setting teen on fire
‘Violence has to stop,’ mom of burned boy says
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He’s a 3-year-old boy who enjoys the things every kid his age loves — riding his bike and scooter, playing football in the front yard with his dad, wrapping his arms around his parents to share a hug.
And Josh Scoble’s parents let him do all those things — even though they know that any bump or bruise he suffers can bring him closer to the inevitable day when he is imprisoned by his own body, his flesh literally turned to bone, his arms and legs and head and even his jaw locked in immobility.
“Eventually it will take over his entire body and he won’t be able to move,” Josh’s mom, Stacy Scoble, said in a heartrending report that aired on TODAY Thursday.

"Ma'am, step away from the treadmill!" - 4 Indications you're doing too much cardio

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by Brett Blumenthal - Sheer Balance, on Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:25am PDT
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Sometimes when I go to the gym, I have this urge to tell some of the most religious treadmill riders "Ma'am, Step away from the treadmill!" No matter how many articles and reports are written on the benefits of exercise other than cardio, it never ceases to amaze me how many women (and men too...) relegate themselves to the endless monotony of the treadmill - or for that matter, any other piece of cardio equipment. Moreover, these individuals will do cardio for over an hour...sometimes hopping from one piece of cardio equipment to another...never even considering time in the weight room, in classes or outdoors.
Although there are definite benefits to doing aerobic exercise; strength, core and flexibility training all provide numerous health benefits that cardio can't: They increase muscular and bone strength, increase lean body mass, safeguard against injury and boost metabolism while decreasing fat.
Is it possible you are overdoing the cardio? Here's how to know:
Time: Unless you are training for a race, marathon or triathlon, there is no need to do more than 30 minutes of cardio (with your heart rate between 65% - 85% of your maximum heart rate) when you workout. Fitness Revamp: If you want to exercise for over 30 minutes, you are better off doing a 20 - 30 minute cardio session and another 20 - 30 minutes dedicated to strength training, stretching and/or core training.
You aren't seeing results: If you are trying to lose weight, yet you aren't seeing results, it may be because of too much cardio. Believe it or not the idea of 'burning off fat' does not stem from cardio...it stems from strength training. Fitness Revamp: Build in 20 - 30 minute strength training sessions 2 - 3 times a week.
Injuries: Too much wear and tear on your muscles and joints can end up in an injury...or even worse, multiple injuries. Incorporating flexibility and strength training helps to strengthen the joints which will prevent pain and damage to joints. Fitness Revamp: Take the time to stretch before and after your cardio sessions.

Coeliac bone loss link uncovered

A fascinating article from the BBC that looks at the link between celiac disease (the British spelling is "coeliac") and osteoporosis. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8295438.stm

Virtual Autopsy Table brings multitouch to the morgue

Virtual Autopsy Table brings multitouch to the morgue

3 Reasons Why Students Should Be Using Dropbox

3 Reasons Why Students Should Be Using Dropbox

I just stumbled across this free program called "Dropbox" that some of you may already know about but if you don't you might want to check it out, especially and if you work from mulitple computers, including public computers at libraries (and it doesn't matter if one is a Mac and the other is a PC). It also works with iPhones.

You use the program to put a folder (and sub-folders) in the cyberspace "cloud". Then you can access the files you've stored in those folders from any of your computers or iPhone. The folders appear in your computer directory just like any of the other folders you have on a hard drive, thumb drive, etc. The files are also stored at dropbox.com so you can access them from any computer if you log in to your account.

The free Dropbox account comes with 2GB of space.

Exercise, not calcium, for bone density:

A new report suggests that bone mineral density is determined more by the exercise a teenager engages in than by calcium intake.

Researchers found no relationship between calcium intake during ages 12 to 16 years with either total body bone mineral gain or hip (bone mineral density) at age 18. They also found that it's not the intensity of the exercise that counts, it's any exercise that is done on a daily or nearly daily basis.

The results surprised researchers, who had expected to see positive effects of higher calcium intake. "We (had) hypothesized that increased calcium intake would result in better adolescent bone gain. Needless to say, we were surprised to find our hypothesis refuted," one of the researchers noted.

Previous research has shown the connection between exercise and bone density, so this study is just more confirmation of this.

PEDIATRICS Vol. 106 No. 1 July 2000, pp. 40-44 http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/106/1/40

What Causes Brain Freeze?

Matt Soniak
What Causes Brain Freeze?
by Matt Soniak - September 30, 2009 - 1:49 PM

Reader Susann writes in to ask, “What exactly is the cause of a brain freeze?”

ice-cream-helmetYou may know brain freeze by one of its other names: an ice cream headache, a cold-stimulus headache or sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia (“nerve pain of the sphenopalatine ganglion”), but no matter what you call it, it hurts like hell.

Brain freeze is brought on by the speedy consumption of cold beverages or food. According to Dr. Joseph Hulihan, a former assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at the Temple University Health Sciences Center, ice cream is a very common cause of head pain, with about one third of a randomly selected population succumbing to ice cream headaches.
So what causes that pain?

As far back as the late 1960s, researchers pinned the blame on the same vascular mechanisms—rapid constriction and dilation of blood vessels—that were responsible for the aura and pulsatile pain phases of migraine headaches. When something cold like ice cream touches the roof of your mouth, there is a rapid cooling of the blood vessels there, causing them to constrict. When the blood vessels warm up again, they experience rebound dilation. The dilation is sensed by pain receptors and pain signals are sent to the brain via the trigeminal nerve. This nerve (also called the fifth cranial nerve, the fifth nerve, or just V) is responsible for sensation in the face, so when the pain signals are received, the brain often interprets them as coming from the forehead and we perceive a headache.

With brain freeze, we’re perceiving pain in an area of the body that’s at a distance from the site of the actual injury or reception of painful stimulus. This is a quirk of the body called “referred pain,” and it’s the reason people often feel pain in their neck, shoulders and/or back instead of their chest during a heart attack.
To prevent brain freeze, try the following:

• Slow down. Eating or drinking cold food slowly allows one’s mouth to get used to the temperature.

• Hold cold food or drink in the front part of your mouth and allow it to warm up before swallowing.

• Head north. Brain freeze requires a warm ambient temperature to occur, so its almost impossible for it to happen if you’re already cold.

Cervical Vertebrae Injury

Whiplash injury - Parts of the cervical spine
The cervical spine is the area most affected when a whiplash injury occurs. The whiplash motion causes a sudden jerk of the cervical spine, often stretching the muscles and ligaments. Read an overview of whiplash injury.
A whiplash injury can cause much pain and discomfort to the neck, shoulders, back and head and recovery can take up to a few months. Read more about diagnosis and prognosis of whiplash injury.
This part of the spine is the most flexible and consists of the first seven vertebrae, starting just below the skull and ending at the top of the thoracic spine.
The vertebrae
The vertebrae are designed to support the weight imposed on the spine and the first two vertebrae are intended principally for rotation.
The first vertical body is called the atlas and bears the weight of the head. It is named after the Greek god who supported the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Axis is the next vertebra which sits below the atlas. This features the odontoid process, a bony knob which sticks up between an opening in the atlas and allows the head to turn from side to side.
Special ligaments sit between the atlas and axis to enable rotation. If these ligaments are damaged during a whiplash injury, the head will be severely restricted and very painful.
The intervertebral discs
These can be found between each vertebra. They are designed to shock absorb any strains to the spine and allow a certain degree of movement between each vertebral body.
The facet joints
Facet joints connect the bony arches of each of the vertebral bodies, allowing individual bones of the spine to move and rotate with flexibility. Facet joints connect each vertebra with the vertebra above and below it.
The neural foramen
This is an opening or protective passageway where the nerves exit the spinal canal in order to carry signals to the rest of the body. Two are located between each pair of vertebrae.
The spinal cord
The spinal cord is part of the central nervous system and is essentially an extension of the brain. It extends from the base of the brain to the area between the first lumbar vertebra and the top of the second.
The nerves in each area of the spinal cord connect to specific body parts. The nerves of the cervical spine go to the upper chest and arms, explaining why pain and pins and needles to the upper arms is a common consequence of whiplash injury. Read more about signs and symptoms of whiplash injury.
Sustaining a spinal cord injury as the result of a whiplash motion is rare because the spinal cord is surrounded by a membrane called dura mater and is also protected by the bones of the spinal column.

Suspicious connection between vitamin D levels and the flu

The seven questions posed by this study in the abstract as well as the introduction are very interesting:

http://www.virologyj.com/content/5/1/29

Vitamin D Levels Tied to Dementia Risk

NYTimes.com: "...vitamin D receptors are present in a variety of cells, including neurons and the glial cells associated with them. That suggests that the vitamin may play a role in brain development and the protection of neurons"

Cartilage and Aging

Journal Article: In class the question of how cartilage ages came up. Here is an abstract of a paper that looks at the age-related changes seen in the chondrocytes within articular cartilage (the thin layer of hyaline cartilage that covers the surface of bones at joints): "These changes most likely are the result of an age related decrease in the ability of chondrocytes to maintain and repair the tissue manifested by decreased mitotic and synthetic activity, decreased responsiveness to anabolic growth factors and synthesis of ... less functional link proteins".

These changes are considered to be directly related to the increase in osteoarthritis that is so typical of the aging process.

Flab and freckles could advance stem cell research

 From Nature News,  September 7, 2009:

"Fat cells and pigment-producing skin cells can be reprogrammed into stem cells much faster and more efficiently than the skin cells that are usually used — suggesting large bellies and little black moles could provide much-needed material for deriving patient-specific stem cells.
"More than one type of adult somatic cell can serve as a target for reprogramming to a pluripotent state," says William Lowry, a stem-cell biologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, who was not involved in the research. "You don't have to use fibroblasts. There are other possibilities."

Click on the link above for the complete article.

The research the article is based upon is from this paper: Sun, N. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA advance online publication doi:10.1073/pnas.0908450106 (2009).

How to tell your fibroblasts to get to work

To stave off premature aging:

633-nm and 830-nm wavelength light therapy for an increase in collagen fibers:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16989189

Topical Retin-A and Tazorac for increased collagen production:

Retin-A, Renova, Avita (drug name tretinoin) and Tazorac (drug name tazarotene), prescribed by your doctor or dermatologist, are still the gold standards among topical prescription products for improving the appearance of sun-damaged (wrinkled and discolored) skin. Tretinoin has the ability to return abnormal skin cell production back to some level of normalcy—think of it as the guru of cell-communicating ingredients. The result in most cases is an improvement in skin's collagen production, which makes skin smoother and offers a modest (but noticeable) decrease in the depth and appearance of wrinkles; Tazarotene is believed to work similarly to tretinoin (Sources: Cutis, February 2005, pages 10-13; Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, July 2004, pages 465-473; and Dermatologic Surgery, June 2004, pages 864-866).

And finally, from the cosmeticscop.com boards:

If anything, the research shows that AHAs can increase collagen production and improve skin structure. The sources are numerous, including Experimental Dermatology (December 2003, Supplement, pages 57-63), which states: "GA [glycolic acid] ... directly accelerates collagen synthesis by fibroblasts.... GA contributes to the recovery of photodamaged skin through various actions, depending on the skin cell type." Cancer Letters (December 2002, pages 125-135) says: "Glycolic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid ... has been commonly used as a cosmetic ingredient since it is known to have photo-protective and anti-inflammatory effects, and anti-oxidant effect in UV-[exposed] skin." Or see the Journal of Dermatology (February 1998, pages 85-89): "the favorable effects of glycolic acid treatment on aging skin were [obtained] by increased cell proliferation in addition to functional activation of fibroblasts [collagen producing cells]." Or see the British Journal of Dermatology (December 1996, pages 867-875), which states "Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) ... normalize [skin cell growth] and increase viable epidermal thickness and dermal glycosaminoglycans content."

Brown-eyed people have more cataracts

Brown-eyed people have more cataracts : "People with dark brown eyes may be at greater risk for developing cataracts than people with lighter eyes, according to a report in a recent issue of Sun & Skin News, a publication of The Skin Cancer Foundation. An Australian team of researchers followed 2,335 individuals of at least 49 years old, and found that those with brown eyes proved 80% more likely than those with blue eyes to develop nuclear cataracts. They were also 2.5 times more likely to need surgery."

Wow, just the opposite of what I would expect. Hard to explain the results given that the lens of a brown-eyed individual should be exposed to less UV light, compared to someone with blue eyes.

Skin cells changed into retina tissue - JSOnline

Skin cells changed into retina tissue - JSOnline: "Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have reprogrammed skin cells and turned them into different kinds of retinal cells, a remarkable demonstration that mimicked the early development of a key part of the human eye and raised hopes for treating disorders that rob millions of their vision."

What is COPD?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a slowly progressing disease characterised by a persistant limitation to airflow that varies very little. COPD is used to describe a spectrum of diseases that includes:

1. Chronic Bronchitis
2. Emphysema
3. Chronic Asthma that has stopped responding to treatment
4. Small Airways Disease.

COPD is classified according to its severity:

1. Mild COPD

   A clinical diagnosis is given where there is a productive cough on most days for three consecutive months in two successive years. This can be labelled Simple Bronchitis, and is characterised by excessive secretion of bronchial mucus with little airflow obstruction (Tortora, 2000).

   The single most important cause of COPD is cigarette smoking. Active smoking causes mucus hypersecretion and a decline in lung function (Barnes, 2001). Air pollution, occupational exposure to dust, fumes and solvents, and repeated chest infections have also been implicated. Inhaled irritants lead to chronic inflammation of the lung lining which stimulates the mucus glands to enlarge and multiply. Therefore more mucus is produced, which serves to narrow the airways and inhibit ciliary function (Tortora, 2000).

   Clinical features of mild COPD include a smoker's cough and mild dyspnoea with no other abnormal signs. Early COPD is detectable only by carrying out a lung function test using a spirometer (Bellamy & Brooker, 2000).

2. Moderate COPD

   Follows the same pathway as mild COPD, and can be called Chronic Bronchitis (Bellamy & Brooker, 2000). It is characterised by excessive secretion of bronchial mucus with some airflow obstruction (Tortora, 2000).

   In moderate COPD the cilia are destroyed trapping the mucus, which may become infected therefore preventing oxygen from diffusing into the blood (Halpin, 2001). The infected mucus may attract an immune response, which unfortunately aids in the destruction of the walls of the alveoli.

   Clinical features of moderate COPD include a productive cough, thickened sputum, and dyspnoea on exertion with some abnormal signs. Examination of the chest may show it to be slightly hyperinflated i.e. the diameter of the chest is slightly enlarged, and wheezing noises may be heard (Halpin, 2001).

3. Severe COPD

   Again is a progression of mild and moderate COPD, and can be called Emphysema. It is characterised by excessive secretion of mucus, severe airflow obstruction and widespread destruction of the alveolar walls (Barnes, 2001).

   Repeated chest infections cause a battleground effect in the alveoli. The leukocytes involved in the immune response die and as the excessive mucus is blocking access to the blood stream they remain in the alveoli. As the leukocytes die they release an enzyme that destroys the alveolar walls producing abnormally large airspaces. These abnormal airspaces remain filled with air during expiration and so reduce the lung capacity. They also have a reduced surface area available for oxygen diffusion (Halpin, 2001).

   Clinical features of severe COPD include a productive cough, thickened and purulent sputum, and breathlessness on any activity. Findings upon examination of the patient with severe COPD may include: hyperinflation of the chest (causing it to look barrel shaped), wheezing and peripheral oedema (Halpin, 2001).

   Traditionally patients with severe COPD are divided into two categories:

   • Blue Bloaters – Cannot get enough oxygen into their system (hypoxaemia) and cannot get carbon dioxide out (hypercapnia). This places a strain on their heart and they develop peripheral oedema (Halpin, 2001). The 'blue' derives from the cyanosed appearance of these patients, while 'bloater' comes from the large body build.
   • Pink Puffers – suffer from extreme dyspnoea (breathlessness) and so increase their ventilation. This helps them to maintain their normal carbon dioxide and oxygen levels, however it is very exhausting. The 'pink' is derived from the reddish appearance of the patient due to the exertion of breathing. While the 'puffer' refers to the breathlessness and panting respiration.

http://everything2.com/title/COPD

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

"Uproariously funny" doesn't seem a likely description for a book on cadavers. However, Roach, a Salon and Reader's Digest columnist, has done the nearly impossible and written a book as informative and respectful as it is irreverent and witty. From her opening lines ("The way I see it, being dead is not terribly far off from being on a cruise ship. Most of your time is spent lying on your back"), it is clear that she's taking a unique approach to issues surrounding death. Roach delves into the many productive uses to which cadavers have been put, from medical experimentation to applications in transportation safety research (in a chapter archly called "Dead Man Driving") to work by forensic scientists quantifying rates of decay under a wide array of bizarre circumstances. There are also chapters on cannibalism, including an aside on dumplings allegedly filled with human remains from a Chinese crematorium, methods of disposal (burial, cremation, composting) and "beating-heart" cadavers used in organ transplants. Roach has a fabulous eye and a wonderful voice as she describes such macabre situations as a plastic surgery seminar with doctors practicing face-lifts on decapitated human heads and her trip to China in search of the cannibalistic dumpling makers. Even Roach's digressions and footnotes are captivating, helping to make the book impossible to put down.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Adult/High School-Those curious or brave enough to find out what really happens to a body that is donated to the scientific community can do so with this book. Dissection in medical anatomy classes is about the least bizarre of the purposes that science has devised. Mostly dealing with such contemporary uses such as stand-ins for crash-test dummies, Roach also pulls together considerable historical and background information. Bodies are divided into types, including "beating-heart" cadavers for organ transplants, and individual parts-leg and foot segments, for example, are used to test footwear for the effects of exploding land mines. Just as the nonemotional, fact-by-fact descriptions may be getting to be a bit too much, Roach swings into macabre humor. In some cases, it is needed to restore perspective or aid in understanding both what the procedures are accomplishing and what it is hoped will be learned. In all cases, the comic relief welcomes readers back to the world of the living. For those who are interested in the fields of medicine or forensics and are aware of some of the procedures, this book makes excellent reading.
Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Pancreatic Cancer Risk Factors

Pancreas (Pancreatic) Cancer: "Advancing age is the strongest risk factor for pancreatic cancer, with the vast majority of cases occurring after the age of 60 years. There is also a clear association between cigarette smoking and pancreatic cancer; however, the roles of diet, alcohol, and coffee have not been substantiated and should not be considered proven risk factors.

Two common diseases which have been actively studied regarding their possible association with pancreatic cancer are diabetes and chronic pancreatitis. Multiple studies have come up with conflicting results, and so at present we cannot say that these diseases definitely are risk factors for the development of pancreatic cancer. More commonly, these diseases may represent an early symptom of pancreatic cancer rather than a direct cause of it.

There are also several genetic syndromes that have been associated with an increased incidence of pancreatic cancer, including hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, familial atypical multiple mole-melanoma, and certain types of hereditary breast cancer (those caused by the BRCA2 mutation)."

Notely Helps Students Get Organized Online

As I mentioned in class, efficent management of your time is essential for success in anatomy. Lots of tools out there on the web to help you with this. Here's one of the newest and it looks pretty good (free also).

Notely Helps Students Get Organized Online: "

The long and hot summer days are slowly but surely starting to fade away which means it’s time to dust off the textbooks and prepare to return to a more scholastic routine.

Being a student myself, I’m always looking for ways to improve the way I manage my time, and more importantly, the various array of tasks that seems to grow exponentially with every semester. Since the statistics say that more than 90% of college students own a computer with an Internet connection, why not take a look at a free, online monthly planner that helps students easily achieve GTD nirvana: Notely.

My first reaction to the idea of a web productivity suite aimed at students was quite skeptical. After all, what can’t you already do with combining existing web applications? You could upload files to the web using Dropbox, write down notes in Google Docs and manage your schedule using a combination of sticky notes, iCal or Google Calendar, use a web dictionary and store links in a special folder on Delicious.

The list can go on, with countless examples of how you can stitch together various web services to fit your needs, but it’s not exactly easy to manage, and while most of these solutions might appear on the radar of a tech-oriented student, what about arts & literature folks?

This is what Notely does; It’s a free online monthly planner that takes all the tools that a student needs to be organized and get stuff done and brings it together in a shrink wrapped package for anyone to use.

Signing up for an account is completely free and takes just seconds – it will even work with an existing OpenID login. After that, you can start adding courses, to do’s, notes – all on a single website. While manually inputting 20 classes doesn’t look that enticing, it’s a one-time only thing and you’re not going to regret it.

After the initial bump, you’ll be gradually adding stuff and the feeling that using Notely is yet another task will dissipate.

The great thing about Notely is that it was developed by a student – and not by a committee of bored programmers in an office, so all the features actually belong to the application and make sense once you start using it daily. And it’s not one of those ‘roach motels’ – you can easily get your data out of the application, exporting notes and calendar events is a breeze.

It’s also got a Tools section, which contains a scientific calculator, a comprehensive unit converter and a dictionary that makes use of the Google Translate API.

Another nice touch is the Facebook integration. Once you’ve added friends, you can share notes with them, quite handy if you have the habit of skipping lectures.

But the killer feature is, of course, the iPhone web application. It has most of the functionality of its biggest brother, and is great for checking up on which room you’re supposed to go to for your next class, duration, even taking short notes or adding to do’s. It’s small things like that that can make a big difference, saving you time every day.

To sum everything up, Notely helps students with: a Calendar, To-Do List, Homework organiser, Manage Courses, Write and Save Notes, Organise Links, Contacts and Files.

You can sign up for Notely here, or view a live demo. Don’t forget to share your choice of tools in the comments. Check out more posts on MakeUseOf about GTD by visiting this page or read this round-up by Daniel Pataki.

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

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