VOA慢速英语 2007 0911b

VOICE ONE:

This is SCIENCE IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.  I'm Bob Doughty¹.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Faith Lapidus.  This week, we will examine the brain disorder² known as epilepsy.  Many people do not understand epilepsy.  They may consider it a mental disability or even a sign of evil³.  Medical experts are working to understand more about epilepsy and improve the lives of those who suffer from it.

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VOICE ONE:

 
Chief Justice John Roberts leaves a hospital in July, one day after he suffered a seizure⁴
On July thirtieth, the chief justice of the United States, John Roberts, fell near his summer home in Maine.  Doctors said the fall was the result of a brain seizure.  But they could find no physical cause.

A seizure is a sudden attack that may affect a person's mind or body for a short period.  Mister⁵ Roberts suffered a similar seizure in nineteen ninety-three.  Experts say a person who has suffered two or more such attacks is considered to have epilepsy.  But just what is epilepsy and how is it treated?

VOICE TWO:

Epilepsy is a medical condition.  A seizure happens when a sudden increase of electrical activity interferes⁶ with normal operations in the brain.

Nerve⁷ cells use electrical particles⁸ to communicate with each other.  Millions of electrical particles pass between nerve cells in the brain.  When the brain has a sudden burst of electricity, the body experiences physical changes that are called epileptic seizures⁹.  Victims can shake uncontrollably for brief periods.  They also can temporarily lose the ability to communicate or think clearly. 

VOICE ONE:

Different kinds of seizures result when different parts of the brain are affected¹⁰.  If electrical activity increases in only one area of the brain, the person will have what is called a partial¹¹ seizure.  Many times, a person may suffer a partial seizure and not know it.  They might note strange feelings in an arm or leg.  They also might hear noises or look straight ahead for a few minutes. 

Sometimes the person will have an uncontrolled movement, like turning the head to one side.  Most partial seizures last less than ninety seconds.  So it is not always possible for others to recognize them as signs of a disorder.

The most famous kind of epileptic seizure is called a grand mal seizure.  A person experiencing this kind of seizure will fall to the ground.  His or her body will become firm and start to shake.  After a few minutes, the patient will stop moving, appear awake and realize what has happened.  He or she may move slowly for about thirty minutes.  Some grand mal seizures start with partial seizures and become worse.

VOICE TWO:

Experts report different reasons why an individual may suffer epileptic seizures.  For example, head injuries or a lack of oxygen at birth may damage the electrical system in the brain.  Other causes are poisoning and high body temperatures. 

Older adults may develop epilepsy because of an infection, stroke¹², or Alzheimer's disease¹³.  But experts say the cause of the disorder is unknown in more than half of all cases.

The World Health Organization estimates¹⁴ that fifty million people around the world have epilepsy.  At least half of all sufferers are children and young people.  The W.H.O. says many people in developing countries suffer from epilepsy as a result of local conditions.  In those areas, people have a greater chance of experiencing a medical condition or disease that can lead to permanent brain damage. 

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VOICE ONE:

The World Health Organization says most people with epilepsy receive no treatment.  Yet many treatments for the disorder are available.

First, a doctor must decide the cause of a patient’s seizures.  The doctor will ask the patient what it felt like before, during and after the seizure.  The doctor then may order tests to measure electrical signals from brain cells.  Other tests may be used to look for any other conditions that may be causing the seizures.  Some machines can even find the brain areas where seizures are produced.

VOICE TWO:

Generally, the first treatment choice for epilepsy is medicine.  The Epilepsy Foundation¹⁵ says different kinds of medicines can stop or control different kinds of seizures.  These drugs work best only after they reach what experts call a desired level in the body.  That level has to be continually¹⁶ present for seizures to be controlled.

It might take months to identify the right drug to control the disorder because each one may cause other problems.  These include weight gain or loss, eye or stomach problems, sleepiness and loss of balance.  Some people may suffer depression, or have problems thinking or talking as a result of taking some drugs.

VOICE ONE:

Another treatment for epilepsy is an operation to remove the part of the brain suspected of causing the seizures.  This is done only when medicines fail to control the disorder.  One requirement for the operation is that the part of the brain responsible can be removed without damaging speech, memory or other abilities. 

Doctors can perform other kinds of brain operations.  One can block the spread of electrical activity in the brain.  Such operations are performed only at special medical centers.  The Epilepsy Foundation says more operations are being done now because new information has increased their safety.  Still, some people get no help from operations and others continue to need medication for their seizures.

VOICE TWO:

Another treatment is called vagus nerve stimulation¹⁷.  It is used in adults and young people who have partial seizures that are not controlled in other ways.

 
Vagus nerve stimulators are used for long-term treatment of epilepsy and other disorders 
In this treatment, electrical energy enters the brain through the vagus nerve in the neck.  The electricity comes from a small power supply placed under the skin in the chest.  Medical experts set the device¹⁸ to provide a small amount of energy every few minutes.  The patient can also send a few seconds of energy through the nerve if he or she feels that a seizure is near.  This has been known to stop a seizure. 

The Epilepsy Foundation says this treatment may cause an uneasy¹⁹ or uncomfortable feeling in the throat of the patient.  The group says most people who use this treatment suffer fewer seizures.  Some patients report increased effectiveness over time.  The foundation says people using vagus nerve stimulation still must take anti-seizure medicines.  But the amount may decrease as the treatment continues.

VOICE ONE:

People with epilepsy may be able to control their seizures by controlling what they eat.  The ketogenic diet is very high in fats and low in carbohydrates²⁰.  It makes the body burn fat for energy instead of sugar. 

This diet requires family cooperation if the patient is a child.  It also requires trained medical supervision²¹.  The patient must be in a hospital for the first part of the treatment.  And the amount of food and liquid the patient can have at each meal must be carefully weighed for each individual.  The patient should obey the dietary restrictions²² for at least one month before experts know if the treatment is successful. 

VOICE TWO:

The Epilepsy Foundation says about one third of children on the ketogenic diet become seizure-free or almost seizure free.  Another third improve but still experience some seizures.  The others cannot continue with the diet or it has no effect on their seizures.

Experts say a child should follow the dietary restrictions for about two years if the treatment is successfully controlling seizures.  Then, other food may be eaten in small amounts to see if the seizures can still be controlled.

Other effects of the diet include digestive problems, loss of fluids²³ in the body, and development of kidney²⁴ stones or gall²⁵ stones.  Thinning bones, an inflamed²⁶ pancreas and eye problems are other possible effects.  Another danger of the diet is that high levels of fat could develop in the blood.

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VOICE ONE:

People being treated for epilepsy in one of these ways can still suffer an unexpected²⁷ seizure.  So what can you do if you see someone in this situation?  Experts say the most important thing is to keep the patient safe until the seizure stops.

Stay with the patient.  Clear the area of anything that could hurt the patient and put something soft under the head.  If you can, turn the body on one side.  Do not force the mouth open or hold the person down.  The seizure will stop on its own.  Then speak to the person calmly and offer help to get home.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

This SCIENCE IN THE NEWS was written by Nancy Steinbach.  Our producer was Brianna Blake.  I’m Faith Lapidus.

VOICE ONE:

And I’m Bob Doughty.  Read and listen to our programs at voaspecialenglish.com.  Listen again next week for more news about science in Special English on the Voice of America.  

1 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。

2 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

3 evil   

n.邪恶，不幸，罪恶；adj.邪恶的，不幸的，有害的，诽谤的

参考例句：

• We pray to God to deliver us from evil.我们祈求上帝把我们从罪恶中拯救出来。
• Love of money is the root of all evil.爱钱是邪恶的根源。

4 seizure   

n.没收；占有；抵押

参考例句：

• The seizure of contraband is made by customs.那些走私品是被海关没收的。
• The courts ordered the seizure of all her property.法院下令查封她所有的财产。

5 mister   

n.(略作Mr.全称很少用于书面)先生

参考例句：

• Mister Smith is my good friend.史密斯先生是我的好朋友。
• He styled himself " Mister Clean ".他自称是“清廉先生”。

6 interferes   

vi. 妨碍，冲突，干涉

参考例句：

• The noise interferes with my work. 这噪音妨碍我的工作。
• That interferes with my plan. 那干扰了我的计划。

7 nerve   

n.神经；勇气，胆量，沉着，果断

参考例句：

• Did he have the nerve to say that?他竟有脸说这话吗？
• He never got up enough nerve to meet me.他从没有足够的胆量来见我。

8 particles   

微粒( particle的名词复数 )； 颗粒； 极少量； 小品词

参考例句：

• These small particles agglomerate together to form larger clusters. 这些颗粒聚结形成较大的团。
• The nucleus of an atom consists of neutrons, protons and other particles. 原子核由中子、质子和其他粒子构成。

9 seizures   

n.起获( seizure的名词复数 )；没收；充公；起获的赃物

参考例句：

• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year. 今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Other causes of unconsciousness predisposing to aspiration lung abscess are convulsive seizures. 造成吸入性肺脓肿昏迷的其他原因，有惊厥发作。 来自辞典例句

10 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

11 partial   

adj.部分的；偏爱的；偏心的

参考例句：

• I could give it only partial support.我只能给它部分的支持。
• I'm partial to a drink at bedtime.我临睡前喜欢喝杯酒。

12 stroke   

n.笔画，击打，连续的动作，中风，心跳；vt.奉承，轻抚； vi.击打，心跳...

参考例句：

• He drove in a nail with one stroke of the hammer.他一锤就把钉子敲进去了。
• He broke the lock with one stroke of the hammer.他一锤就把锁砸坏了。

13 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

14 estimates   

估计

参考例句：

• Unofficial estimates put the figure at over two million. 非官方的估计数字为200万以上。
• We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后，接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 foundation   

n.[pl.]地基；基础；基金会；建立，创办

参考例句：

• The foundation of the university took place 600 years ago.这所大学是600年前创办的。
• The Foundation gives money to help artists.那家基金会捐款帮助艺术家。

16 continually   

adv.不间断地，不停地；多次重复地

参考例句：

• The other kids continually taunted him about his size.其他孩子不断地耻笑他的个头儿。
• The US is continually building up its armed forces.美军正持续加强它的三军。

17 stimulation   

n.刺激，激励，鼓舞

参考例句：

• The playgroup provides plenty of stimulation for the children.幼儿游戏组给孩子很多启发。
• You don't get any intellectual stimulation in this job.你不能从这份工作中获得任何智力启发。

18 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。

19 uneasy   

adj.心神不安的，担心的，令人不安的

参考例句：

• He feels uneasy today.他今天心里感到不安。
• She had an uneasy feeling that they were still following her.她有一种他们仍在跟踪她的不安感觉。

20 carbohydrates   

n.碳水化合物，糖类( carbohydrate的名词复数 )；淀粉质或糖类食物

参考例句：

• The plant uses the carbohydrates to make cellulose. 植物用碳水化合物制造纤维素。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All carbohydrates originate from plants. 所有的碳水化合物均来自植物。 来自辞典例句

21 supervision   

n.监督，管理

参考例句：

• The work was done under my supervision.这项工作是在我的监督之下完成的。
• The old man's will was executed under the personal supervision of the lawyer.老人的遗嘱是在律师的亲自监督下执行的。

22 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

23 fluids   

n.液体，流体( fluid的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He is taking cold fluids. 他正在喝冷饮。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• You can contract Aids if your bodily fluids come into contact with the bodily fluids of someone else who is infected with HIV. 如果你的体液与染有HIV者的体液接触，你就会染上艾滋病。 来自《简明英汉词典》

24 kidney   

n.肾，腰子，类型

参考例句：

• Several of the patients had received kidney transplant.病人中有几位已接受了肾移植手术。
• The operation to transplant a kidney is now fairly routine.肾脏移植手术如今已相当常见。

25 gall   

v.使烦恼，使焦躁，难堪；n.磨难

参考例句：

• It galled him to have to ask for a loan.必须向人借钱使他感到难堪。
• No gall,no glory.没有磨难，何来荣耀。

26 inflamed   

adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His comments have inflamed teachers all over the country. 他的评论激怒了全国教师。
• Her joints are severely inflamed. 她的关节严重发炎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

27 unexpected   

adj.想不到的，意外的

参考例句：

• I always keep some good wine in for unexpected guests.我总保存些好酒，用来招待不速之客。
• His promotion was unexpected.他的升迁出人意料。