Understanding Morgellons Disease In Detail And Possible Treatment

Morgellons disease is an unexplained and controversial skin problem. Unfortunately, this condition is not common and it is hence poorly understood. It is characterized by small particles of fibers that emerge from skin sores. Patients also feel experience a stinging feeling on the skin or feel as though something is crawling on them. There are facts you should know about the Morgellons disease.

Because MD is not understood in detail, some practitioners treat this condition as a delusional infestation. This means that patients receive cognitive behavioral therapy, counseling, antipsychotic drugs or even antidepressants. Other doctors will even treat the concern as an infectious skin cells problem.

Some of the signs and symptoms allied with MD include skin sores or rashes that are extremely itchy and a crawling sensation under or on the skin as though an insect is biting, stinging or crawling on you. Patients also feel fatigued, have challenges concentrating, fall into a depressed mood and suffer from short-term memory loss. The most obvious symptom is threads, fibers or a black, stringy material on or in the skin.

MD can interfere immensely with the quality of life of a patient, mainly because of the intense itching and open sores. The results of studies conducted by different groups over decades are conflicting though multiple results have shown a possible link between MD and Borrelia spirochetes. However, the Disease Control and Prevention centers have ruled out any chances of the concern being caused by parasites or infections.

Practitioners refer to MD as an unexplained dermatopathy because the fiber samples from skin wounds are cotton. This concern is more prevalent among middle-aged white women and its signs and symptoms are quite similar to those of mental challenges that involve delusional infestation or rather false beliefs regarding infestation by parasites. Unfortunately, there is no conclusive diagnosis, guidance or treatment of this disease.

There are specially formulated salt baths that may aid in managing and alleviating this health concern. Salt baths, typically referred to as Morgellons bath can help in removing the stuff on the skin. Regular baths with essential oils could also help to accelerate healing of the sores. Fill your tub with warm water and add these products and then soak for at least one hour. This should help to remove the buildup of cysts. You can rinse in the shower afterwards.

The symptoms of MD are distressing and that is why you need compassionate treatment. Begin by establishing a relationship with a proficient and compassionate health care team and work with a practitioner who acknowledges the concern and not only devices a treatment plan, but also does thorough exams. As the patient, your patience is necessary because any ethical doctor must first consider other evidence-based treatments before considering an MD diagnosis.

Keeping an open mind is necessary if you want to find lasting relief. In certain cases, there are solid reasons for a practitioner to recommend mental health therapy. Treating concerns like anxiety and depression can help to understand the skin sores better when your thinking, moods or behavior is not influenced by mental health problems.

Sign-up for free newsletters to get a better understanding of what Morgellons disease is and how you can overcome this condition. Find out more about the use of bath salts to heal your body from this website at http://WeAllHaveMorgellons.com/.

Genetically Modified Mosquitoes: Dropping the Dengue Fever by 91%

By Muhammad Qasim Iqbal

The new dreadful disease, Zika Fever strikes with a little headache, little fever, little joint pain and most of the people who have had it, don't know they have had it. Recently, just a year ago, the outbreak of Zika Virus in Brazil caused a peak of Microcephaly- Children born with a deformed i.e. small size and small brain. It was in the children of the mothers who were infected with the virus. The new England Journal of Medicine published a paper on May 29th, 2016 Entitled "Zika Virus and Birth Defects-Reviewing the Evidence for Causality".

The Zika virus broke out from a monkey at the Zika forest in Uganda identified by the researchers of the Yellow Fever Research Institute. The first cases were ever reported was in Tanzania, Uganda and that's how it got spread through West and East Africa then through Equatorial Asia like India, Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia but it was just in Mosquitoes and Monkeys. The one of the biggest outbreaks were in the French Region which had 30,000 reported cases in 2013, from there it causes various outbreaks in the islands on the south coast of America. Then, there was an outbreak in the Natal, Brazil which were thought provoked by the people that it was either the 2014 World Cup that brought it or the Canoe Championship races held that year in Brazil.

Now. Let's leave the fuss about its transmission in Miami and talk about the treatment. You can get Vaccinated but sadly, there is no vaccine discovered till now and maybe there won't be in the next couple of years. But, viruses like Zika and Dengue are being killed by the insecticidal sprays but they sadly, the bigger amounts of insecticides can have severe reaction and can even kill the person then the infection of the virus. 'I am a very big fan of Biological Controls and I share that with Rachel Carson, the Author of the Silent Spring" she said. And then because of that she had interest in using the different approach for the treating the viruses like Zika and Dengue.

The Aedes Egypti, the vector for the transmission of the viruses like Zika, Dengue, West Nile, Ancient Plague and many others. It's the female mosquito which is responsible for this bad work, male doesn't even have the mouth parts to bite. She bites so she can get a blood to feed her off springs. A British company called OXITECH modified the mosquito in such a way that the female eggs don't develop to adulthood.

The scientists added a gene in the genome of the mosquito which encodes a protein which feedbacks on itself so it can crack a lot of protein, making the extra copies and where ever they go, kill the organism and now to keep it running, they added tetracycline which shuts down that gene for the promotion of its normal growth. They added another gene which glows under the UV light and they can monitor where it goes? how far it goes? How much time he lives? Now, the male Friendly Aedes was released around in the city of Piracicaba, Brazil by the mayor himself. They were guided by the GPS and the most inspiring thing, just in one year, they brought down the cases of Dengue by 91 percent. Something Impressive? Right.

They are not even being released in the U.S because of the regulation for the Genetically Modified Organism. Some may even call them the "Animal Drugs" but to be fair the results were better than insecticide or any other vaccine treatment. Now, the only reason I picked this was why not in Pakistan? Maybe, no one even heard of this Friendly Aedes. Guess what? We need it more than any other country because of the reported cases of Dengue fever emerging every year or the other viral infections caused. But, the truth is maybe, even in a decade, it won't happen or maybe it could. Who knows?

Getting Rid of A Cold Sore - Natural Remedies and Medication

By Louis V Lim

Cold sores are frequently called fever blisters. The majority of cold sores are caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus or HSV-1.

The WHO reports that approximately 65% of adults aged over 50 are inflicted with HSV-1, and around 50% of American children already have the virus. The virus doesn't constantly show symptoms, and only around 30% of individuals with HSV-1 will show infection signs namely cold sores.

Cold sores often appear on the mouth and lips, but they can show anywhere on the skin, even the tongue.

Home Remedies

Immune-boosting, antiviral, and antimicrobial compounds are usually excellent for treating cold sores. Some remedies help reduce the transmission of the virus while others cut the possibility of more infections or ease discomfort and pain. Not all treatment works for each person, but various natural products could help lessen symptoms and inhibit future recurrences.

Natural remedies include:

• lemon tea and its compresses
• lip balms with no less than 1% lemon
• witch hazel oil, mint, and peppermint
• Aloe vera gel to soothe inflamed lesions while giving moisture.
• licorice powder, combined with petroleum jelly or water and applied to sores
• licorice root, with glycyrrhizic acid
• l-lysine supplements or lysine cream used as an immune booster and help in cell repair
• Echinacea to boost immunity, best consumed in supplement form or tea. Echinacea is available online.
• sage and rhubarb mixtures
• cornstarch paste, made with starch and water, 1:1
• milk, with l-lysine and antibodies

Vitamin E aids the body to repair damaged dermal cells as well as grow them. Food rich in Vitamin E include nuts, leafy greens, and whole wheat. Moreover, oils with Vitamin E are available. Furthermore, Vitamin C can increase white blood cells, which are mainly the infection-fighting cells of the body. Food rich in Vitamin C is frequently deep green, orange, or red in color. And these include tomatoes, peppers, berries, kiwis, spinach, and broccoli.

There are OTC medications available as well to treat symptoms of cold sores. Lots of them provide child-friendly dosages. These include:

• Orajel and Anbesol numb sores, reducing pain
• Zilactin and Abreva, both available online, may aid to cut recovery time
• Inflammation- and pain-reducing medications such as ibuprofen can help as well
• Rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide keep the lesions clean
• Applying zinc oxide creams to scabs could kill viral cells that the sores release

Medication

Individuals with cold sores ought to seek medical attention if the infection does not improve in several weeks. HSV-1 complications are uncommon but highly possible. Individuals with weak immune systems ought to seek expert medical advice whenever recurrences are becoming frequent. Several complications can result when the virus starts to spread to other body parts. For instance, the virus could infect the fingertips (herpes whitlow) or the eyes (herpes keratitis).

Commonly prescribed treatments for cold sores include anti-viral tablets and creams. According to the British National Health Service (NHS), creams are usually only effective if applied when the sores first appear.

For treating cold core symptom, the doctor usually prescribes anti-viral creams and tablets. The British National Health Service states that creams are often only effective if applied as soon as the initial sores appear - which is the first outbreak.

Prescribed medications for cold sores include:

• Valacyclovir (Valtrex)
• Acyclovir (Zovirax, Xerese)
• Penciclovir (Denavir)
• Famciclovir (Famvir)

Louis V. Lim is a healthcare assistant and blogger who knows who wants to share information about Herpes and how to treat it.

If you and your loved one is suffering from herpes, then chances are you want to know more information about the disease and how to treat it. You can find such information in our FAQs Section -    Herpes (FAQs)

Steps to Increase Awareness on Immunization to Prevent Diseases

By Billie Jean Bateson

Know the Importance of Immunization:

Immunization is the process of administering a vaccine thus by triggering the immune system to fight against infectious diseases. It is a powerful, safe, proven and effective shield. If a person is vaccinated, in case if they come in contact with the vaccine-preventable diseases, their immune system not only effectively protects them but also helps to avoid spreading to others. You can even make sure that you can have a healthy baby if you have a maternal vaccination while pregnant.

What are vaccine-preventable diseases?

The WHO lists some diseases such as tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, influenza, pneumococcal infections, diphtheria - that can result in serious complications and even death but vaccines are available to prevent them. The worldwide eradication of smallpox and polio are the major examples of how immunization can play a vital role in disease control.

Purpose of World Immunization Week:

Each year World Immunization Week is celebrated globally in the last week of April as per the WHO mandate, mainly to increase awareness and to highlight the combined action required to increase rates of immunization and also to ensure that every person is protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. This year, it is observed from 24-30 April 2018 and the theme is "Protected Together #Vaccines Work".

Steps to Increase Awareness to Prevent:

In the United States, though immunization coverage rates are increasing, yet in many communities, people lacked knowledge on vaccination and held misguided information that the vaccines are not necessary, putting them at serious risk of these potentially fatal diseases. It is time to make them understand that immunization saves millions of lives and globally, it is considered as one of the most successful and cost-effective health medication. There are many ways you can start getting your cause noticed.

Extend your support to the organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in their effort in protecting children with recommended vaccinations.

Communication helps facilitate the sharing of information. Talk to friends, colleagues and family members about the importance of immunization.

Encourage those around you to get vaccinated for infectious diseases which can be prevented by immunization. It is important that both children and adults have all the necessary immunizations to protect them from infection.

Social media plays a vital role in spreading awareness. You can post eye-catching pictures with a message highlighting World Immunization Week on your media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram through which your message can reach remarkably.

The rate of increase of vaccination in a given community depends on both service factors and the extent to which the public understands the immunization process. Organize an awareness campaign in your community in coordination with healthcare professionals and Government officials, to emphasize the need of immunization to protect the public from infectious diseases. Arrange to distribute some attractive giveaway gifts with awareness message will go a long way. In view of the easy customizable nature, giving customized silicone wristbands is one of the best ways to create the desired impact. Irrespective of age, people love to wear these fashion accessories. You can get them easily online with your choice of colors, types, and sizes.

Since this year's theme is "Protected Together #Vaccines Work", we all join together to create awareness on immunization to prevent diseases.

Billie Jean Bateson - Authorized copywriter of   Amazing Wristbands - Best place to purchase custom wristbands and silicone bracelets. Fast production, great prices and a variety of styles and designs are Amazing Wristbands specialty! For more details call us at 1-800-269-0910.

Wristbands For  Immunization Awareness Month

What Causes Anal Fissures?

What Causes Anal Fissures?

By William M Mason

Anal fissures are cracks, fissures or disruptions on the skin surface around the anus. These fissures are comparable to small wounds that may cause acute or chronic pain, itching, irritations, and difficulties in defecation. These tears are present inside the anus, particularly in the area where the skin inside the rectum meets the skin of the anus. Of course, there's only one question in your mind right now - what causes anal fissures? It's time for you to find out.

The skin is the largest organ of the body and is composed of different parts. The epidermis is the outer layer of the skin. And this part of the skin is the most exposed to damages.

With regard to the skin on the anus, when it's stretched too much, or when it's irritated too much, that's where the problem occurs.

Sometimes, anal fissures are said to be caused by the dryness of the skin area on the anus, which in turn makes the surface quite rough. This rougher epidermis is likely to disrupt or break out, that's why it forms cracks or fissures.

Apart from the dryness of the skin, there are also other things which might cause the cracking of the anal surface. These are:

1. Frequent Constipation- the hardening of the feces may contribute to the breaking of the skins, as the pressure on the surface becomes too much. That is why it is greatly advised for someone experiencing anal fissures to have high fiber food on a regular basis. It's also recommended for people to avoid food that may cause constipations.

2. Postponing of defecation- when you feel the urge to go to the bathroom and you postpone it a little while, that's when the amount of feces would increase. This makes it difficult to expel the feces and may cause too much pressure on the anal surface. This eventually leads to tears.

3. Too much strain on the anal sphincter- the anal sphincter is the circular muscle found on the anus. This is where feces are being expelled, and if they build up and get harder, this causes too much strain or pressure on the anal sphincter. Because of that, cracks or fissures may appear on the surface.

4. Pregnancy/Giving birth- when the skin on the anus has been stretched too much, chances are high that fissures will appear.

5. Pressure or tension on the surface- sometimes friction from toilet paper or other things might slightly damage the anal skin. If these materials are rubbed over the skin with too much pressure, irritations and cracking might occur.

6. Improper digestion and defecation- the damage on the anal surface is sometimes related to improper digestion. This might cause constipation, stool hardening, and improper defecation. Due to this, the skin might be damaged and cracked.

What causes anal fissures? Well, you finally know the answer and you now understand why it is a must to observe proper hygiene, and to avoid doing things that may cause the damage to the skin.

To download a free report please visit http://www.stopanalfissures.com

Article Source:  What Causes Anal Fissures?

Spinal Bracing: A Treatment Option for Scoliosis in Children

Spinal Bracing: A Treatment Option for Scoliosis in Children

By Sujish Kandampully

When a child is diagnosed with scoliosis, parents mind get filled with visions of him or her wearing a spinal brace to cure the curve. Parents might start thinking about how long this brace has to be worn and how will their child react if it would stop the trajectory.

So before, getting to that point, there are few things one should know about spinal bracing for scoliosis.

Observation Recommended for Scoliosis

After managing various tests and exams, the doctor will develop a treatment plan for the Childs' scoliosis. Usually, with a small curve, the first step is observation - giving the curve some time to see if it has any progress further.

The child will be inspected every 3 - 4 months, and during that inspection, the doctor will order an X-ray if the curve seems to be increased. It is vital to minimise the number of X-rays taken (because of exposure to radiation), and in many other cases, one X-ray per year should be considered sufficient.

When Is Spinal Bracing Recommended?

With curves or with more severe curves that are likely to progress (to get worse), bracing is a massive non-surgical treatment option to try to stop the curve from getting worse.

Before, recommending for bracing, the doctor will determine:

1. How much growing the child has left to do?

2. Where the curve is - because a curve in mid-back (thoracic spine) is more likely to worsen than a bend in the low back (lumbar spine)?

3. How severe is the curve and how it is affecting their Childs' life?

4. How likely the curve will get worse - because if the curve is sharp enough and the child hasn't gone through his or her adolescent growth period, it is likely to get worse they grow further?

Bracing is the conventional treatment for children having curves greater than 20� and at least two years of growth is remaining. Bracing is never prescribed when the slider is greater than 40�. In that case, surgery may be required.

It is vital to remember that a brace can help to stop the curve from progressing further, but it usually won't fix the curve which is already there.

Wearing the Brace

Wearing a brace is a significant commitment, provided that the parents and their children need to work on together. For bracing to be as efficient as possible, remember the key points listed below:

1. Follow the doctors' order:

The doctor will decide what kind of brace is best suitable for their child's curve and for how long they can wear it every day. Some children have to wear their braces up to 23 hours a day (while that is an intimidating number), it is very crucial that the child should wear the brace for full time. The doctor will work out with the parents to figure out when their child doesn't need to wear his or her brace.

2. Wear it well:

The child may be in and out of their brace for few times in a day - during their gym class, for example. It is vital that every time they put their brace back on, it is tight enough and well positioned. If it is not, then it won't do much good.

3. Watch out what you wear:

Beneath the brace, the child should wear a shirt that fits them well and does not wrinkle. This will protect their skin; else they would get irritated from the brace. On the brace, the child can wear regular clothes, though they might have to get clothes of a size or two bigger to fit over the brace.

Bracing may be uncomfortable - both emotionally and physically. At times when kids do not want to be different, a brace is a noticeable difference.

Medical Disclosure:

The information contained in this article is presented for the purpose of educating the people. Nothing contained in this article should be construed nor is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider. Should you have any healthcare-related questions, please call or see your physician or other qualified health care provider promptly. Always consult with your doctor or another qualified healthcare professional before embarking on a new treatment, diet, or fitness program.

You should never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article.

Article Source:  Spinal Bracing: A Treatment Option for Scoliosis in Children

6 Commonly Asked Scoliosis Questions Finally Answered

6 Commonly Asked Scoliosis Questions Finally Answered

By Sujish Kandampully

Scoliosis is nothing but the sideways curvature of the spine. It occurs mostly during the growth spurt just before puberty. Most cases are found to be mild with only a few symptoms. Some children develop spine distortion that gets worse as they grow. Worse scoliosis can be painful and disabling. Though this disease is self - diagnosable, it cannot be cured, and therefore treatment is not mandatory. But sometimes surgery or brace is needed, lab tests or imaging is always required. Since it is a chronic disease, it can last for years or may stay lifelong.

Commonly Asked Questions (C.A.Q.)

1. How does an individual discover that he or she has scoliosis?

Scoliosis or curvature of the spine usually produces a cosmetic distortion. Visible asymmetries in the shape of the back and the observation that one hip or shoulder is higher than the other are the most general signs that someone has scoliosis. These asymmetries are more evident in adolescence during the fast growth spurts and may be detected by friends or parents.

2. Is drinking enough milk or consuming junk food responsible for scoliosis?

In sporadic cases, scoliosis may be caused by dietary issues. Scoliosis may be a rare finding in diseases where lack of calcium causes softening of the bone. Whatsoever one consumes and the quantity of food one consumes doesn't produce any curvature in the spine. Regarding junk food, they never cause any curve to the spine.

3. Does it hurt?

Adolescents and children who are suffering from scoliosis seldom complain of pain. If the pain is the primary reason for a young patient, then further analysis is required beyond standard x - rays to put in place an underlying cause of the curvature. For example, in rare instances, an excellent inflammatory focus of tissue (osteoid osteoma) can produce curvature of the spine.

The population of adults that are diagnosed with scoliosis seek treatment because of pain. As one grows old, the spine becomes less ductile and undergoes changes which lower the water content in the disks and cause inflammation in the joints.

4. Since surgery is not mandatory, does wearing a hard brace the only choice to preserve the spine?

Though there is a little dispute as to whether patients who qualify for specific criterion should be braced, the precise choice of the brace type and the time span of brace wear generates some exchange of views.

5. Who is fit for spinal surgery? Who is the decision maker for surgery and how worse the curve has to be?

For a patient discovered with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, who has never undergone spine surgery, the leading indicator for an operation is a growing curvature measuring 40� or more. The physician will suggest surgery based on medical necessity (not at all a cosmetic reason), and then the surgical options are talked over with the patient, and with the parents of any patient who is below 18 years. The choice to proceed with the surgery is entirely on the hand of the patient except for who is below 18 years.

6. Is there any age restriction?

The final commitment for surgery is based on medical criteria, which includes the degree of curvature, the progress of curve and the skeletal maturity of the patient. Through surgical intervention, the spinal curvature can daily be made correct to 40% of the original size, but the curative aim should be more vitally be producing a fused spine that leaves the patient balanced.

Medical Disclosure:

The information contained in this article is presented to educate the people. Nothing contained in this section should be construed nor is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. Should you have any healthcare-related questions, please call or see your physician or another qualified healthcare provider promptly. Always consult with your doctor or another qualified healthcare professional before embarking on a new treatment, diet, or fitness program.

You should never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article.

Article Source:  6 Commonly Asked Scoliosis Questions Finally Answered

Constipation in Newborn Babies

Constipation in Newborn Babies

By Anselm Anyoha

She was only seven days old. 'For three days, my baby has not passed stools,' the mother said, anxiously. The infant squirmed in discomfort and strained to the point of turning red.

She had been on baby formula since birth. While in the hospital she had passed stool regularly every day, mostly after each feed, sometimes several times a day, until three days ago when suddenly she stopped moving her bowels and had been mostly crying and uncomfortable.

While the baby was on the examination table, and after I had watched and saw how uncomfortable she was, twisting her abdomen from side to side, I knew I had to intervene to relieve her of the discomfort.

When to intervene

I don't always choose to interfere with the natural process of bowel evacuation in newborns.

When to intervene or help with bowel movement in the newborn depends on a clinician's experience and the mother's anxiety level. Where a mother or a caretaker is very anxious, I tend to intervene more readily.

Two options

For very young newborns, say babies in their first four weeks of life, there are two main options available to aid with bowel movement. Rectal stimulation with a thermometer is one option. Inserting a glycerin suppository in the rectum is the second option. Both procedures are easy to learn.

A glycerin suppository is a medicine formulation that can be inserted into the rectum. When used it can temporarily relieve stool passage. Glycerin is inserted into the baby's rectum the same way a Tylenol suppository may be inserted to lower fever.

It is important to make sure the glycerin suppository goes inside the rectum. The suppository can be shaved down to a smaller size so that it can more easily be inserted. Usually once or twice a day for a couple of days is all that is required. If one suppository does the magic, there is no need to repeat.

Since I did not keep glycerin suppositories in my office I decided to do a rectal stimulation. What I actually was looking for was an immediate relief. Had I used a glycerin suppository on the baby, she may not have moved her bowel until she got home, and that would have been less desirable for the mother and the baby.

Rectal stimulation

After explaining to the anxious mother my plan, and obtaining her approval, I put on my gloves, took out a rectal thermometer from the side cabinet, and lubricated the instrument with Lubriderm. Vaseline can serve in place of Lubriderm to lubricate the tip and distal part of the thermometer. Any person capable of taking a good rectal temperature can learn to do a rectal stimulation on babies.

As the baby lay on the exam table, butt over diaper, I said to the mother, 'Hold the baby's legs apart.'

Gently, I introduced the tip of the lubricated thermometer about one inch into the baby's rectum, similar to what a practitioner would do when taking a rectal temperature. I held the thermometer in the baby's rectum for a moment until she began to push against it and with it the stool in the rectum.

The baby continued to make concerted efforts to push, and moments later an avalanche of stool came rolling down. Thank goodness there was a diaper in place! More stools came down when I wiggled the thermometer a little while it was still in the rectum.

The first part of the stool that came down was dry, and hard enough to have clogged the toilet. Fortunately, together with the underlying dirty diaper, it was discarded into the garbage bin. Later, the stool became soft, but kept rolling down for a minute or two. Thereafter the baby sighed, then smiled and then fell asleep on the exam table. All the body twisting and crunching went away.

'My baby is okay now,' the mother smiled.

Based on my clinical practice experience, I did not think there was anything wrong with the baby in discussion except that for some reason she was unable to pass stool. Temporary intervention was all that was needed.

When I saw them a week later, mother and baby were happy and baby had continued to pass stool regularly.

What else could constipation mean?

Many maladies that can afflict a baby -- none of which was applicable in this particular case -- fill a pediatrician's mind when confronted with constipated infants. Could it be Hirschsprung, a congenital disorder in which parts of the colon and rectum lack the nerves necessary to propagate stool movement down and out of the rectum? Is it anal stenosis, in which the anal canal, the distal part of the rectum, is too narrow to allow a free passage of stool?

What other pediatricians think

Pediatricians differ widely in the way they treat otherwise healthy babies who are unable to pass stool. I spoke to a few pediatricians about this particular case. Some said they would have done nothing, others said that babies are never constipated, while a few said they would have waited for seven days before intervening.

The varied answers are not surprising, since clinicians act based on their experience, scope and length of practice.

Tips on preventing newborn constipation

Consider breastfeeding your newborn. Breast milk may possess laxative properties, and breastfed babies are less constipated than formula-fed babies. No matter whether you choose breast milk or formula, feed baby very frequently, on demand---when baby is crying due to hunger, and certainly every 2-3 hours. Follow instructions carefully while mixing powdered baby formula.

The older a baby gets, the more ways clinicians have of intervening during periods of constipation. In my next article I will discuss constipation in older babies and in children as a whole.

The above article is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition. Take your baby to a pediatrician if you are concerned that he or she is constipated.

If you have benefited from this article, please donate a small amount of money to a nonprofit organization helping elders in my home town [ Akokwa, Nigeria] live out their lives in dignity. Website: http://www.eldershelpinghands.org

Article Source: Constipation in Newborn Babies

How Mice and Zebrafish Are Unlocking Clues to Repairing Damaged Hearts

How Mice and Zebrafish Are Unlocking Clues to Repairing Damaged Hearts

By Richa Verma

Unexpected that unassuming mice and zebrafish can help repair damaged hearts, a new study has revealed.

The zebrafish has the ability to stitch its severed spine again and the mouse has a substance surrounding its hearts that can patch up the injured or broken heart.

The researchers injected the extracellular matrix of the zebrafish into the damaged cardiac tissue of a mouse. The Zebrafish cellular matrix enhanced the cell replication, tissue regeneration and also improved the functioning of the heart in the mouse. The research reveals that proteins play a very important role in this transformation.

The power to heal quickly is seen only in super humans and is referred to as a super ability. Humans cannot re-grow their limbs like starfish. But children who lose their fingertips provided the nail is still safe have found that their tips can re-grow again. With age this ability gets turned off. The study along with research is to help study the MNDCM so this ability can be turned on again.

Every year a few lakh suffer from heart attacks and blocked arteries. A blocked artery deprives the heart of blood and oxygen its basic fuel. The longer the blockage lasts the more cells die and the heart is damaged permanently.

When children are born they have a large number of heart muscle cells called mononuclear diploid cardiomyocyte or MNDCM. These cells have regenerative properties and can rebuild the heart muscle. But as we grow older the cells reduce leading to a heart attack. MNDCM are few and hence are not able to repair the damage caused by the heart attack.

After an attack the healing is a long process and once the cells are damaged the muscle cells cardiomyocytes are replaced by scared tissue, which cannot contract and pump. This further increases the stress on the remaining heart muscle and then leads to heart failure.

The researchers have found that a few mice have less than two percent of the MNDCMs while others have it in a larger percentage. Thus, those mice with a higher number of MNDCMs are able to regenerate the heart muscle after an injury or a heart attack. A wide genetic study has revealed the gene Tnni3k that plays a major role in generating the MNDCMs.

Turning off the Tnni3k gene resulted the increased number of MNDCMs thus increasing the ability to regenerate the heart. But when the same gene Tnni3k was activated in the zebrafish it reduced the number of MNDCMs and destroyed its ability to repair damaged heart.

But it's still a long way from being used on humans. This study is just the first step towards evolving a medicine. The Tnni3k can be modulated and hence can be used to create prescription medicine. The Tnni3k overtime can help contain more regenerative cells in adult hearts and prevent heart failure.

The ultimate goal of this research is regeneration of the cells to heal the body. Quick healing is useful in a young child, the body needs to regenerate.

Tnni3k in zebrafish promoted cardiomyocyte compromised heart regeneration. The results corroborate the importance of MNDCMs in heart regeneration. It implies that heart regeneration is not same in every individual, but it is influenced by many genes.

It is likely that several things influence the functional and morphological outcome after a heart injury, which includes cardiomyocyte proliferation, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, collagen deposition by fibroblasts (scarring), regrowth of coronary vasculature etc.

Read more at http://bit.ly/2BiVJmJ

Article Source: How Mice and Zebrafish Are Unlocking Clues to Repairing Damaged Hearts

A New Hope to Make the World Cancer-Free With UC Irvine

A New Hope to Make the World Cancer-Free With UC Irvine

By Richa Verma

Whenever anyone suffers from cancer, chemotherapy is the most well-known option that they receive from the doctors. This is true that taking chemotherapy can save or extend the life of a cancer patient, but taking chemotherapy is just like destroying an ant hill with an atom-bomb. The chemotherapy drugs not only divide the cancer cell but they take part in healthy cell division, which can badly affect the hair and the bone marrow of the cancer patient.

Nowadays, to avoid the side effects of chemotherapy, many institutions and companies are focusing to develop more effective anti-cancer therapies with fewer side-effects. Recently, the UC Irvine team has engineered a stem cell-based method that can destroy breast cancer cells by metastasizing them in the lungs in the most effective way possible. This method was experimented with a mouse and the cancer cell was successfully metastasized in the lungs.

How extracellular matrix promotes metastasis?

The tissues and the organs of our bodies make cells and these cells secrete molecules and proteins that create a scaffold between the cells. This scaffold is known as extracellular matrix. The extracellular matrix plays an important role in regulating cell growth and several other functions. According to the previous studies (experimented on the mice), the accumulation of collagen and the other proteins in the matrix boost the tissue stiffness and develop metastasis.

UC Irvine: The Inventor of MRCS

Depending on this theory, the UC Irvine team focused to form a cell system that will release chemotherapy medicines in response to the elevated stiffness. They found that mesenchymal stem cells not only migrate to tumors in the human body but also trigger of particular genes in response to the increased stiffness to their cellular environment. The researchers, at the UCI team, developed mesenchymal stem cells in order to carry a gene, which codes for a protein that is involved in the activation of the chemotherapy drugs. The gene is specially designed to be turned on only when it encounters a stiff, cancerous tissue. This method is known as MRCS or mechanoresponsive cell system.

Their dream:

According to Weian Zhao, the team leader of UC Irvine, they have engineered MRCS to metastasize the breast cancer into the lungs. He has also mentioned that this technology will also be applicable to different metastases as well. This is possible because most solid tumors are stiffer than normal tissues. He claims that their system is unique and powerful since they don't need to spend the time to create new protein marker for every kind of cancer.

How MRCS can help a cancer patient:

The MRCS has helped the cancer patients to live a longer life. In the MRCS, the mesenchymal stem cells were infused through the blood and placed it to the lungs. When this cell finds any stiffed tissue or tumor cells, they activate the chemotherapy tissues and kills the tumor cells with minimal damage. When the MRCS stem cells were given to mice without tumors, during an experiment, no damage to healthy tissue was observed.

So, it can be predicted that people, suffering from cancer, would be able to avoid the side-effects of chemotherapy, with the help of MRCS. Since this cell does not damage the healthy tissues, the chance of recovery will be increased to a great extent. Let's hope to be the best!

Read more at http://bit.ly/2BLSeEN

Article Source: A New Hope to Make the World Cancer-Free With UC Irvine

Important Symptoms Of Dengue That You Need To Know

Dengue fever is a serious mosquito-borne disease that primarily occurs in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, especially in Southeast Asia and Pacific islands. Some of the mild symptoms of dengue are fever, rashes, muscles and joint pain. If you are experiencing above mentioned signs and symptoms, it is highly advised to get a check-up done at the earliest.

What are the symptoms of Dengue?

The Dengue symptoms in children and adults begin about three to 15 days after the mosquito bite transfers the virus into the body. Some of the initial symptoms are-



Joint pain,

Fever and chills that include- shivering and sweating simultaneously,

Rashes (itchy) or red spots,

Swollen lymph nodes,

Back pain or pain behind the eyes.

In some cases, if the situation worsens it can be life-threatening as well. In such a condition, the blood vessels become damaged and leaky. The number of clot-forming cells also known as platelets present in the blood stream, drops to a great extent. Some of the serious symptoms of dengue in both children and adults are-



Haemorrhagic fever,

Persistent vomiting,

Minor bleeding from gums and nose,

Severe abdominal pain,

Bleeding under the skin that looks like bruising,

Problems in liver, heart, and lungs,

Rashes can occur in the palm and feet lead to bacterial infections,

Blood pressure may drop severely.

What are the causes of Dengue?

The   symptoms of dengue occur when a person is bitten by a special type of infected mosquito, known as Aedes Aegypti. The virus is transferred from mosquitoes to human beings.

Some of the complications of dengue fever involve - dehydration, low blood pressure, slow heart rate, severe liver and neurological damage.

What are the risk factors for dengue?

Some of the common risk factors for dengue fever are-



Traveling to tropical or endemic areas where dengue is a very common disease. It increases the risk of exposure to the virus can causes dengue fever.

If one is repeatedly bitten by an infected mosquito.

Taking no major precautionary measures to avoid mosquito bites.

What are diagnosis and treatment options for Dengue?

For diagnosing dengue fever, the patients first have to consult with the doctor about his/her medical and travel history. The most common blood test is Complete blood count in which the technician examines the Red blood cell (RBC) count, White blood cell (RBC) count and Platelet count of the patient. Other tests depend on the patient's immunological response to the dengue virus, such as- Dengue viral plaque reduction test, IgG-ELISA, etc.

The treatment involves drinking plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. The doctor may order Acetaminophen (a type of drug) that helps to relieve pain and reduces fever. For home remedies, one can opt for papaya leaf extracts that are highly helpful in increasing the platelet level of the blood.

What are the precautionary measures that one must opt for?

The two important prevention tips that will help one to reduce the risk of mosquito bites are- wearing fully covered clothes while traveling and using a mosquito repellent that contains at least 10 percent concentration of DEET.

The author is an ardent health blogger who writes about various types of diseases related to mosquito bites, such as Dengue, symptoms of dengue, Malaria and its symptoms, etc. His pieces of content are highly informational in nature.


 By Tarun Yadav


Article Source: Important Symptoms Of Dengue That You Need To Know

Types Of Prostate Diseases

The prostate is one of the most sensitive organs in the body. Just like the other parts of the body, it's affected by a number of diseases. The most common diseases include:

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

Also known as enlarged prostate, the condition is very common in men over 75 years. According to experts, the condition is part of the normal body aging process and it's brought about by changes in cell growth and hormone imbalance. When you are suffering from the condition you tend to experience trouble getting started urinating, experience weak urine stream, feel like you need to urinate, and after urinating, you feel as if the bladder isn't completely empty.

Prostate cancer

It's estimated that one in every 11 men over the age of 50 suffer from the condition. When you are suffering from the condition, there are no signs of the tumor. Instead, you experience the symptoms brought about by the blockage from the cancer. The symptoms are almost similar to the ones you experience when you are suffering from enlarged prostate. They include: frequent need to urinate, difficulty starting and stopping a stream of urine, weak urinary system, leaking urine when coughing or laughing, blood in urine, and inability to urinate when standing up.

The good thing is that the condition can be easily rectified when identified early thus its recommended that you regularly get tested if you are over the ages of 40.

Prostatitis

This is an inflammatory disease that affects 1 in every 15 young or middle-aged men. In most cases, the condition is brought about by a bacterial infection. There are many types of this condition with the most common being:

Acute bacterial prostatitis: This is a sudden bacterial infection that is characterized by inflammation of the prostate. Experts observe that it's the least common types. When you are suffering from it you tend to experience acute urinary tract infection where you suffer from increased urinary frequency and urgency. You also tend to feel the urge to urinate a lot especially at night and it's common to have pain in the genital area and pelvis.

Chronic bacterial prostatitis: The condition is as a result of recurrent urinary tract infections that have entered the prostate gland. The symptoms of the condition are similar to those you find in acute bacterial prostatitis but they are less severe and can fluctuate in intensity.

Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis: It's the most common type of disease that accounts for up to 90% of prostatitis cases. When you are suffering from the condition you tend to experience urinary and genital pain.

In addition to giving you information on prostate diseases we also have plenty of information on treatment options. We will let you know about 3D Prostate Treatment. We also have plenty of information on NEW prostate cancer Treatment. Visit the given links to know more.


 By Idd Aziz


Article Source: Types Of Prostate Diseases

How to Determine If You Have Vertigo

My friend was driving her car off to fetch the kids in school. The world suddenly spin, she was kind of dizzy but she was there sitting still in the car while everything was moving too fast... she was out of the blue for a while, good grace she stepped on the brake. She shouted for help in the middle of the street. She was just having a vertigo attack.

Vertigo is a type of dizziness that most aging people experience. Some women in their menopausal stage suffer vertigo caused by hormonal imbalance. Here are the symptoms of vertigo, if you are experiencing some of these then it is not a usual dizziness but vertigo.

1. Difficulty in standing or walking properly due to dizziness. Weak limbs.
2. Nausea that last for 1 minute.
3. Visions that everything is spinning or moving.
4. Feeling of falling or dropping.
5. Visions seems blurry and appears double.
6. Could not focus and could not hear properly
7. Feeling of light-headedness
8. Discomfort in the ear.
9. Discomfort while swallowing.
10. Having facial paralysis.

The best way to prevent vertigo attack is to have enough sleep. An ideal 8 hour of sleep during the night and 1 to 2 hour nap during daytime can minimize the symptoms of vertigo. It is also advisable to avoid stress. Stress can cause hormonal imbalance causing vertigo to attack.

Nicotine and caffeine can also trigger the symptoms. It is better to quit smoking and avoid drinking coffee if you are diagnosed having vertigo. Coffee can cause serious sleep problems just like nicotine which inhibits sleep. Caffeine is consider a drug that can increase heart-rate making you alert and nervous.

My friend once told me that vertigo attacks is getting worse whenever she had sex with her husband. Of course, I am not saying that you should avoid having sex too. But I need to jot it down that attacks may vary according to activity of the person having vertigo. And sex may be one of the activities that triggers the attack.

From my friend's experience, the attack after she had sex brought her too much pain on her head giving her partial paralysis on her face. The numbness lasted around 10 minutes. She tried preventing random attacks by regular exercise and proper diet. She includes Buah Merah mix as part of her daily supplement. Now she can control the dizziness whenever vertigo tries to attack again,

Jennifer is a writer who loves sharing health and beauty tips, new ideas and has passion for wellness. Join the world of health and wellness with her at   https://m.facebook.com/Buah-Merah-Mix-1827061064210871/


 By Jennifer Marimon


Article Source:  How to Determine If You Have Vertigo

The Hurricane Of Heroin

The newest tidal wave of chemical addiction is called 'iatrogenic disease.' It occurs when a potential addict takes pain pills after surgery or injury and becomes addicted. Then, the doctor cuts them off which leaves them with an uncontrollable itch that only an opiod will scratch. To the least informed among us, they are labeled as having a 'moral issue or weakness.'

Any human can get tripped up by addiction. Those chemical hooks don't care. They arrived at birth poised to strike inside 10% of us and they are fierce. Passed down genetically through the generations, current addicts are poorly served by keeping it a secret.

"Why don't they just stop?" "They did it to themselves." We are judging the addict to death, literally. About 70 years ago, the AMA-American Medical Association-declared alcoholism a disease. It sure wasn't treated like one. Monitored? Researched? Forums held? It was the black sheep of the medical disorder list.

Pull up a breast cancer website. It is all pink and pretty with hopeful messages on t-shirts during fun runs. Then, check out some of the drug rehab sites: handcuffs, an empty whiskey bottle and a skull and crossbones. A very different tone. No one was 'running for their cure.'

People with lung cancer aren't shamed for smoking. Did a diabetic's chosen diet cause the imbalance? Self-mutilators? They're known to suffer from a brain disorder and not blamed. The medical community and all the pharmaceutical companies have done the addict/alcoholic a MONSTOR-SIZED disservice. Addiction has now claimed more lives than any war to date!

Treating prescription drug addiction is very different than heroin or alcohol. Today, they are usually treated together and handed the 'big book' of Alcoholics Anonymous and a list of meetings.The majority are introduced to the "Twelve Steps." Medications are frowned upon.

Physicians once treated chronic pain patients with escalating doses of opiates. The results for many was development of complications, drug dependence and limited improvement. It was the only solution offered and then patients were left to figure out addiction by watching it happen.To break this pattern, a unique profile must be developed for the chronic pain patient and better tools for the management of both addiction and pain need to be explored.

Chronic pain patients present a challenge to doctors for several reasons including ongoing pain complaints, fear of activity and a higher incidence of untreated psychological issues. Pain should be treated as a multi-layered condition. Some patients need help from different sources, not just a medical man who either says yes or no to a prescription.

Drug addiction and dependence are very controversial. Over time, they have been the subject of much debate in the development of criteria for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the bible of the psychology world.

The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as "a primary, chronic, neurobiologic disease with genetic, psycho-social, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations."

Impaired control over use, compulsive use, continued use despite harm, and cravings are the hallmarks of dependence. "Chemical Use Disorder" involves a physiological dependence composed of tolerance and/or withdrawal symptoms.

Unlike addiction to non-prescription drugs (e.g. alcohol, cocaine, heroin), iatrogenic disease requires a doctor's help to kick into gear. Today, that same doctor should educate himself thoroughly and seek out new treatments.

There are new drugs on the market that decrease cravings, help battle the horrors of withdrawal and one may even 'vaccinate' against heroin. With it, the user won't get a 'high." These are barely used and slowly developed. A list of AA meetings is usually the first line of treatment.

There is an old and tired idea about not using drugs to treat drugs but it is better than burying so many until we figure out an answer. At least new meds can keep some alive while we come up with something better than a treatment written in 1939 that hasn't changed a word since.

It is time to try to bring the new drugs into use and safely start human trials. If Europe is having success with Baclofen, China with Kudzu, Africa with Ibogaine, why couldn't we be open to new ideas as soon as possible?


 By Sherry Lynn Daniel


Article Source: The Hurricane Of Heroin

New Approaches in Medical Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory arthritis which has affected nearly 1% of the adult of total world's population. It is defined by symmetric polyarticular inflammation of the synovium, the small joints of one's hands (MCP and PIP), wrists and feet.

This inflammation pain and stiffness, and could result in progressive joint damage leading to deformities and lack of function. Linked organ destruction also plays a role to severe disability. Moreover, chronic inflammation secondary to RA can also result to an higher chance of heart problems and alterations in bone metabolism.

These newer medications have proven better promise at improving disease outcomes, but it also a point to notice that they go along with notable side effects which could pose long-term therapy challenges and difficulties among the preoperative arena.

Articular Manifestations

Inflammation and successive flattening of synovial joints would be the sign of occurrence of RA. Why your immune system is tempted to attack & destroy and continues unknown, but great strides have already been produced in figuring out how.

Inflammation of one's synovial tissue includes interactions in between macrophages, T and B lymphocytes, synovial fibroblasts, as well as other cells of one's inflamed synovium which can include mast cells, dendritic cells and also plasma cells.

Bone Manifestations

One's of RA patients are impacted in each of a native and systemic manner. As    per study, at a local level, issues that stimulate osteoclasts leading to higher bone resorption are delivered from inflammatory and fibroblastic pannus cells.

Airway Manifestations

The occurrence of airway disease in RA is predicted to influence around 20-30% of total patients. Manifestations may include cricoarytenoid arthritis, pulmonary fibrosis and small airway disorder, generally looked as bronchiolitis obliterans on histopathology, with obstructive issues on lung function testing.

Lung disorders are more common in male RA patient who seropositive, smoke, and also have longstanding disease.

Cardiovascular Manifestations

Patients affected from Rheumatoid arthritis Symptoms a 40% increased chance of mortality in comparison to the actual population after twenty years of disorder. This increased likelihood of mortality is usually corresponding to a higher incidence of heart problems.

One of recent group study has indicated that this chance of cardiovascular events in RA patients is two times higher compared to the normal population, comparable to the potential risk of patients with diabetes.

PHARMACEUTICAL OPTIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF RA

DMARDs

DMARDs (Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs) became one of the vital treatment for RA disease in year 1970s. As a group, they are proven to reduce inflammation and lower the rate of radiographic progression; however the degree by which this is often accomplished is uneven.

The time period of DMARD starting has actually been debated, but current consensus suggests the previous treatment can possibly be initiated, the better the entire end result for clinical improvement and protection against erosive disease.

The 1st 15 months of RA disease are critical for initiation and increase of DMARD therapy, in an effort to accomplish acceptable outcomes long-term. A serious problems treating patients with RA is because it can be currently impossible to figure out which patients will improve with which medication procedure.

Biologic DMARDs

The increasing availability of medicines targeted toward specific abnormalities of the immunity system, the so-called biologic DMARDs, has totally changed RA disease.

This expanding variety of drugs targets molecules that have lived revealed to play important roles within the pathology of RA. Because of the cost and negative effect profile, the usage of biologic DMARDs is usually recommended after patients have failed the usage of single or combination standard DMARD therapy.

So treating RA is always a critical process for medical science and there are lots of advanced medication under medical observation which can be used to lower the effect of RA.

Jack Peters is a health blogger who writes about Disease and its adverse effect and how to treat them effectively to live healthy and happy life.


 By Jack Peters


Article Source: New Approaches in Medical Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease

A Reputable Colon And Rectal Doctor Cited Some Colorectal Diseases

The large intestine is the last organ of the digestive tract. It consists of 2 parts - the colon and the rectum. The colon passes up, across and down the abdomen. The rectum, on the other hand, leads out of the body through the anus.

The main function of the colon is to process the 3 pints of liquid it receives into solid stool. The rectum will coordinate the process of evacuation. A person normally passes up to 200 grams of solid stool every day. But this varies from 3 times every day to 3 times every week.

Most people have difficulty moving their bowels. This can be a result of their activity levels and diet.

Common Problems Affecting The Colon And Rectum

Constipation - This is defined as hard, small or infrequent stools. It may be caused by inadequate oral fluid, poor habits, inadequate fiber in the diet, and movement problems in the large bowel.

Irritable bowel - This is a condition where the colon muscle contracts abnormally. This can lead to high pressure that builds up in the colon, which causes bloating, abdominal cramps, gas and extreme urgency.

Internal Hemmorrhoids - These are normal blood vessel lining inside the anal opening. If they become enlarged, they may be irritated and start to bleed. They contain gas and avoid passing it out until it is socially acceptable.

External Hemmorrhoids - These are veins that lie under the skin on the outside of the anus. They do not usually cause any symptoms. When a blood clot forms, it can be very painful.

Diverticular Disease - These are little sacs in the bowel lining that happen if the lining gets pushed through the weak spots in the muscle of the bowel wall. It might be due to low-fiber diets. Unless the sacs gets blocked and infected, they can't cause any symptoms.

Polyps and Cancer - A major health problem today is the cancer of the colon and rectum. It happens when there's a complete loss of control of how the large bowel grows and divides. There are a lot of things that cause such loss of control. A polyp is a small growth protruding from the large bowel's lining tissue. Be reminded though that not all types of polyps will turn into cancer.

Colitis - This is a group of conditions causing inflammation of the large bowel. It causes rectal bleeding, diarrhea, urgency and abdominal cramps.

Whenever you feel any symptoms related to these diseases, visit a reputable colon and rectal doctor. This will help prevent the worsening of your condition.

People suffering from any symptoms of these colorectal diseases must consult their physician as early as possible. For more info, check out this site.



 By Jim O Kelly


Article Source: A Reputable Colon And Rectal Doctor Cited Some Colorectal Diseases

Stem Cells Have a Neat Trick to Prevent Tissue Scarring

Aging is a natural process that no one can deny. But how about a treatment that will not only keep your muscles flexible during the normal aging process, but also treat various muscle wasting diseases? Well, this is no more a mere concept. The Stanford University School of Medicine researchers have discovered that stem cells, present in the muscle tissues, can prevent tissue scarring, clinically termed as fibrosis.

Thomas Rando, who lead the study, said, "Fibrosis occurs in many degenerative diseases and also in normal aging," he added, "It negatively impacts muscle regeneration by altering the stem cell niche and inhibiting the stem cell function. In addition, as more scarring occurs, muscles become stiff and can't contract and relax smoothly."

The team tried to understand how normal muscle tissues regenerate under usual circumstances and at the same time how they respond to injuries. During the research, they concentrated on fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs), the stem cells that reside in the muscle and build the desired connective tissue structure to support muscle regeneration.

The findings of the research are quite amazing. Not only had they discovered that the stem cells in the muscle have the ability to respond to aging, injuries or diseases, but also they can prevent fibrosis.

The scientists studied PDGFR alpha (PDGFRa), a protein found on the surface of FAPs. The structure and function of the PDGFRa protein is quite intriguing. It straddles the cell membrane. The outer part of the protein functions as a landing area for any external factors that encourage the FAP cells to divide. The inner portion helps to pass on the external signal inside. If the response is somehow over-enthusiastic, it may lead to fibrosis. So, a balanced response on the stem cell's part is required for an optimum result.

The study showed that the muscle-embedded stem cells can police themselves to get the optimum response. Rando pointed out, "We've found that the cells actively regulate the production of the inhibitory form of the protein, which is very surprising. If they make less, the degree of fibrosis increases; if they make more, it decreases."

The normal version of PDGFRa protein instructs the FAPs to divide and grow, which is ideal if FAPs try to repair any tissue damage. However, excessive growth may lead to fibrosis. In order to avoid it, FAPs build a truncated version of PDGFRa protein that orders the cells to prevent tissue scarring by restricting any further division.

The research team figured out that the stem cells create a shortened version of the protein, which is not there in the interior portion. The shortened version of the protein hides the external growth signals away from the larger version of the protein. The cells grow the ability to create the shortened form of the protein by identifying and implementing a series of nucleotides. The nucleotide code then instructs the cell's messenger RNA to set up a shorter signal. Consequently, the protein gets truncated.

The researchers forced the FAPs to build the shortened version of the protein in a mouse model. Followed by the process, both young and old mice showed less scarring. The team is soon to test this approach for muscle wasting diseases like muscular dystrophy in a similar mouse model. We will certainly keep you updated on the findings. Stay tuned!

For stem cell banking visit   https://www.cordlifeindia.com.


 By Richa Verma

 
Article Source: Stem Cells Have a Neat Trick to Prevent Tissue Scarring

What Are Your Treatment Options for Peripheral Neuropathy?

If you suspect you have or have been diagnosed with neuropathy, also called peripheral neuropathy, you know it is not pleasant. Suffering from burning, shooting or electric shock type pain, especially when you are inactive is a common occurrence. In my opinion, the worst symptom of neuropathy is the inability to have a great sense of balance. When your feet can't accurately sense the surface you are walking on, you risk falling.

Neuropathy can be a painful, life altering condition. Selecting the proper treatment can lead to progression or regression. You need to choose wisely.

Let's face it, neuropathy can be terrible; I have seen people in my office who can't wear shoes, only flip-flops, due to the amount of foot pain they agonize with daily. Others have given up driving due to their inability to feel the brake and accelerator pedals. Losing your freedom is one of the worst outcomes of progressive neuropathy.

Neuropathy is a progressive problem if the cause is not determined

Generally there are five broad causal categories:



Blood sugar imbalance such as diabetes and hypoglycemia. Your nerves function best when fasting blood sugar is in the 85-99 range and fasting insulin and HbA1c is around 5.0

Toxic load damage such as occurs with Agent Orange exposure, chemotherapy, radiation therapy. Many medications are known to cause or contribute to neuropathy, including the cholesterol lowering drugs called statins.

Autoimmune damage can cause neuropathy and one of the more common underlying factors is gluten intolerance.

Idiopathic, meaning unknown cause. With this category the clinician must order very specific testing to discover the hidden cause or causes.

Physical damage to nerves can occur from sporting injuries, chronic poor posture that leads to spinal and nerve damage, or even from long forgotten "fender benders"

Many ineffective strategies to deal with neuropathy are common in the world of medical care, which I outline below:



Just wait and see how it goes. You really don't need any research for this one... all chronic conditions, like weeds overtaking the,garden will get worse over time and therefore, treating the complex conditions gets harder and harder. Once you have nerve loss of 85% or more in the peripheral nerves, the proverbial window has just about shut. Nobody, I mean, NOBODY is going to be able to help you. Time is of the essence in neuropathy care. Wasting time not getting to the root cause and correcting it often leads to a very poor lifestyle.


Medications. The most commonly prescribed medications for peripheral neuropathy - Lyrica, Neurontin and Amitriptyline - were not even designed or approved for the condition. Lyrica and Neurontin (Gabapentin) are anti-seizure medications that have terrible side effects like "burning, tingling, numbness, or pain of arms hands feet or legs... change in walking or balance, delusions, dementia, suicidal thoughts, difficult bowel movements, clumsiness, confusion, difficulty speaking, etc. - the list goes on and on and on. Amitriptyline, an antidepressant, has its own side effects such as constipation, drowsiness, dizziness and sexual dysfunctions. Many of these side effects sound like the condition itself, so, in my opinion, medications aren't really a great option - and besides they only treat the SYMPTOMS of the condition at best. I believe that you can NEVER drug your way into better health.


Surgery. There are some types of PN that surgery could help with, such as a bulging disc or some other types of stenosis, but these types of neuropathies are usually mononeuropathies that affect only one leg (or arm) and usually only one nerve root, not the more typical neuropathy that we're talking about here. The kind that affects BOTH feet and legs (or hands and arms).


Physical Therapy. If you have muscle weakness, physical therapy can help improve your movements, strength and flexibility - all good for neuropathy. I'm a big fan of exercise, but I've never seen a case where a patient has been able exercise neuropathy away.

Rather than wasting time treating symptoms, taking a root cause approach for neuropathy is prudent and effective

Embarking on a revolutionary approach; one that determines the root cause or causes and seeks to correct the cause can be highly effective. If you have tried or considered any of the above four options and have lost hope or confidence in recovering from Peripheral Neuropathy, then you may want to consider a Functional Neurology program that involves a three-prong approach to recovery: 1) Inflammation reduction and tissue healing through nutrient balancing, 2) passive activation of nerves and muscles to increase neuroplasticity, strength and balance and 3) a course-of-action for sustainability of your recovery and even increasing your function and performance over time.

If your doctor told you that there is NOTHING else out there that can help you, they are not up on the latest research of neuroplasticity - NERVES CAN REGROW as long as they still have a blood supply and their the nerve cell is not dead - but don't believe me - read the scientific journals.

Clinicians who use several layered therapeutic modalities to trigger healing in the body successfully help peripheral neuropathy sufferers. The therapeutic tools employed help nerves work better, improve circulation and remove interference to the body's healing capacity. In the end, taking a root-cause approach does what is considered impossible; help heal neuropathy, and it is because we are using the right tools and strategies... not just treating the pain or symptom.

Here is an example of a successful neuropathy treatment protocol with a patient I personally attended. She had only 35.7% of normal sensation in her right foot and 21.4% in her left foot before starting our neuropathy recovery program. She developed neuropathy from chemotherapy and from the nerve damaging effects of diabetes. After instituting health supporting dietary changes and a neutraceutical regimen combined with the therapies her care program indicated, she ended up with 94.3% normal sensation in her right foot and 91.4% normal sensation in her left foot. These changes took place over three months of care.

In summary, know there is a path back to health. If you have been told there is no hope to stop the horrible pain or numbness in your hands or feet, don't give up. Searching for a practitioner who will look for root causes, decide if your nerves can still repair and employ a multi-pronged healing approach, may just the help you are looking for.

Dr. Karl R.O.S. Johnson is a chiropractic physician and medical writer in Shelby Township, Michigan. Dr. Johnson's areas of expertise include chiropractic, functional medicine, functional neurology and spinal rehabilitation. He is the author of the "Ultimate Strategy" series of eBooks on the topics of; fibromyalgia, balance disorders, migraine and other debilitating headaches and well as unresolved thyroid symptoms. If you would like to learn more visit my peripheral neuropathy page ( http://www.helpmychronicpain.com/peripheral-neuropathy-challenges-and-treatment/ ) where I reveal some aspect of the five key elements that have to be addressed to defeat neuropathy. Go ahead - you will find it worth your while! For more information and to receive updates on my informative and useful blog, please visit http://www.helpmychronicpain.com/blog or call 586-731-8840.


 By Dr. Karl R.O.S. Johnson, DC 


Article Source: What Are Your Treatment Options for Peripheral Neuropathy?

How Can I Observe, Prevent and Treat Dengue?

The harmful viral disease that crops up in tropical areas whose transmission is carried out by mosquitoes, by which we suffer from sudden fever and severe joint pain is termed as Dengue. It is the most common disorder of the present times. Now we will discuss its symptoms, prevention and treatment in the following manner.

Symptoms
There are certain symptoms of Dengue by which we can easily predict the disorder. The symptoms of Dengue are explained in the following way.

High Fever
Fever is the common disorder, but high fever is the symptom of Dengue. In other words, when a person is suffering from high fever, then it is the probability that he is in the trap of this disease.

Intense Sweating
Sweating is good for our health, but intense sweating is the sign of this disease. Therefore, if a person is facing intense sweating then we should go for diagnostic tests for this disease.

Joint Pain
Joint pain is the common problem, but it should not be neglected as it is the sign of this illness which is serious.

Vomiting and Nausea
Vomiting and nausea are the signs of many diseases, but they are also the signs of this illness which should be diagnosed as soon as possible.

Loss in Appetite
Food is necessary for our body. It provides energy to the body. Loss in appetite is the indication of this illness.

Low Blood Pressure
To get a healthy life our blood pressure should be normal. Low blood pressure is the sign of this malady.

Rashes on skin
This malady can be diagnosed by observing the indication of rashes on the skin.

Swelling
If our hands and feet are getting swollen then it is the consequence of this sickness. On serious condition blood platelets and blood pressure get lowered down to pinpoint.

Prevention
As this sickness is dangerous for our body, so some sort of precautions should be taken to avoid this sickness. These precautions are as follows.

We should avoid the visit to tropical or sub-tropical areas as these areas are much more subjected to this malady.

1. Water storage should be improved.
2. Waste should be disposed properly.
3. Water stagnancy should be avoided strictly.
4. Mosquito repellents that use to be used should entail 10 per cent DEET, but we 5.should also read warning label with due care. Mosquito repellents such as marigold and lemon grass should be used.
5. Dark coloured clothes should be avoided as dark shades attract mosquitoes. Light coloured clothes of full sleeves should be worn.

Treatment
There is no particular medicine to treat this disorder. The juice of pomegranate and other liquid diet should be taken to recover and cure it. Ample of rest should be taken to get recover from this malady. Acetaminophen and codeine should be taken for joint pain and severe headache.

Among different hospitals in India which are curing Dengue, Apollo Hospital Bangalore is one of them. Due care of patients is taken in Apollo Hospital Bangalore.


 By Amit Saraswat


Article Source: How Can I Observe, Prevent and Treat Dengue?

What Is Thalassaemia?

Thalassaemia is an inherited blood disorder caused by a genetic defect. The condition causes the body to produce abnormal haemoglobin in red blood cells, which in turn causes anaemia.

Haemoglobin within red blood cells is important because it is the primary molecule that carries oxygen around the body. Hence, the lack of functional haemoglobin causes a malfunction in oxygen carrying capability.

Types of thalassaemia

There are two types of thalassaemia: Alpha thalassaemia and Beta thalassaemia.

Patients with Alpha thalassaemia carrying one faulty gene will experience no observable effect. Patients with two faulty genes experience mild anaemia. Patients with three faulty genes will result in chronic anaemia requiring regular blood transfusions. Four faulty genes are incompatible with life.

Patients with Beta thalassaemia can be divided into several forms. Beta thalassaemia major, also called BTM, requires regular blood transfusions and is the most serious. Beta thalassaemia intermedia, also known as BTI or non-transfusion dependent thalassaemia or NTDT, is a milder form of the condition and the severity differs between individuals, from mild anaemia to the need for regular blood transfusions.

Carriers of either Alpha or Beta Thalassaemia genes may not know their carrier status and can only confirm it by blood testing. Knowing one's carrier status is important for people planning to have children, as thalassaemia is an inheritable disease.

People of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, African or Asian descent are more likely to be carriers. Thalassaemia is common in these regions because it helps to protect the carriers against malaria.

Causes of Thalassaemia

Thalassaemia is a genetic disease and cannot be transmitted from one person to another.

Treatment for Thalassaemia

The most common treatment for beta thalassaemia major (BTM) is to have regular blood transfusions every four-to-six weeks to reinfuse functional haemoglobin in the body. This treatment can raise iron levels in the body to dangerous levels, risking heart, liver and hormone problems. Chelation may be performed to reduce iron levels in such situations..

Bone marrow transplants may cure thalassaemia in young individuals below the age of sixteen but potential cases should be considered individually.

Stem cells in umbilical cord blood transfusion have also been used for thalassaemia treatment.

For Beta thalassaemia intermediate (BTI) patients, treatment will depends on the severity of a person's symptoms. This can range from folate supplements to blood transfusions.

People with BTM are recommended to have a diet high in calcium and vitamin D and to take regular weight-bearing exercise to help strengthen their bones.

Complications of Thalassaemia



Hypersplenism

Delayed puberty

Stunted growth

Irregular heart rhythms

Hepatitis, Hepatic Cirrhosis

Osteoporosis

Thalassaemia Myths

It is important to know the truth about thalassaemia and not to succumb to many myths surrounding the disease. Here are a few samples of misleading information.

Asymptomatic parents will not pass the disease to their children.

Myth: Faulty genes can be transmitted vertically from parent to child.

If only one parent is a carrier, the child will not inherit the genetic disorder.

Myth: As long as one parent is a carrier, every child has a chance of inheriting the genetic disorder and can only be confirmed with blood evaluation.

Routine blood tests during a person's lifetime would have demonstrated carrier status.

Myth: Only specific blood tests for thalassaemia detect carrier status.

If a baby is a carrier, he or she will get ill later in life.

Myth: Carriers do not develop full blown thalassaemia but will have a chance of passing the faulty gene to subsequent generations..

If both parents are carriers, the 25% chance of a child having the disorder would mean one out of four babies will be ill.

Myth: Every pregnancy should be considered as an independent event for statistical evaluation. Hence every baby born has a 1 in 4 chance of inheriting the disease.

Thalassemia will not occur in the Caucasian population.

Myth: While thalassemia occurs more frequently in certain ethnic groups, it has also been found in Caucasians.

It is imperative that I keep my carrier status a secret.

Myth: Blood relatives often carry similar genes. Hence sharing one's carrier status can increase awareness and understanding amongst the community.

My child is only a carrier so I will not discuss it with him.

Myth: It is important to inform a child of his/her carrier status because the faulty gene can be transmitted to future generations.

Only women need screening tests.

Myth: Both sexes need to be tested as a combination of genes is inherited by a child.

Marrying someone from a different ethnic background avoids children being affected.

Myth: Parents of any background have the potential to pass on carrier status or thalassaemia.

Being a carrier protects against malaria.

Partly true: Thalassaemia carriers have a certain degree of protection against malaria.

Thalassaemia can be caught from blood transfusions.

Myth: Thalassaemia is a genetic disorder. It is not transmitted through blood transfusions.

Thalassaemia needs to be treated with iron supplements.

Myth: Use of supplements should be done under medical advice.

Dr Tzun Hon Lau is a resident housecall doctor at CMY Medical with more than a decade of experience in home care in Singapore. He has attended to patients of a all ages with a wide variety of health conditions.

Check out the housecall services of CMY Medical for more information.



 By Tzun Hon Lau


Article Source: What Is Thalassaemia?