Posts filed under 'Health and Fitness'
May 5th, 2006
Stem Cell Treatment for Digestive Diseases
Irritable bowel disease (IBD) : also known as irritable bowel syndrome, includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Chron’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines. It primarily causes ulcerations (breaks in the lining) of the small and large intestines, but can affect the digestive system anywhere from the mouth to the anus. It is named after the physician who described the disease in 1932. It also is called granulomatous enteritis or colitis, regional enteritis, ileitis, or terminal ileitis. Ulcerative colitis is also a chronic inflammatory condition that involves only the colon. IBD affects approximately 500,000 to 2 million people in the United States.
The exact cause of IBD is unknown. Some scientists suspect it may be triggered by infections from certain bacteria, but definitive evidence to support this is lacking. IBD may be caused by autoimmune reactions. While the immune system normally defends the body against harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other foreign invaders, if the body’s own tissues are mistakenly recognized as “foreign,” an autoimmune disease can result. Other examples of autoimmune diseases include type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks tissues of the pancreas, joints and bloodstream, respectively. In the case of IBD, the immune system attacks the cells lining the digestive tract. Recent research suggest irritable bowel syndrome may involve genetic predisposing factors.
Currently there is no medical cure for IBD, and current treatments are not very effective. Once the diseases begin, they tend to fluctuate between periods of inactivity (remission) and activity (relapse); the treatment goal is to promote longer periods of remission and reduce the frequency and duration of relapses. Current approaches include treatment, as necessary, with anti-inflammatory medications, immune suppressing agents, anti-diarrheal medications and/or other drugs. Dietary modifications, such as reducing fiber intake and consuming a liquid diet, can be helpful. If portions of the intestine become severely diseased, surgery may be required.
How Stem Cell Transplant Therapy Helps
Because IBD involves immune system destruction of cells in the intestine, stem cell therapy has the potential to help treat the disease by regenerating some of the destroyed tissue and/or favorably modulating the immune system so it is less prone to attacking the intestinal cells.
Scientific Foundations
Clinical experience to date suggests stem cell therapy for irritable bowel syndrome can promote longer periods of remission and reduce the frequency and duration of relapses.
Read information on the safety of IRM stem cell treatment.
Chron’s disease. http://www.medicinenet.com
February 21st, 2006
Human Fetal Stem Cell Therapy is a medical treatment whereby human Fetal Stem Cells (“mother” cells of the body) are transplanted into a patient. These cellular building blocks are usually administered intravenously (Fetal pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells) and subcutaneously (Fetal neuronal stem cells). It is a painless procedure, which takes place in approximately one hour, with no negative side effects.
The Fetal Stem Cell searches out, detects and then attempts to repair any damage or deficit discovered, as well as releases growth factors, which stimulate the body’s own repair mechanisms.
Fetal Cell Properties
Human Fetal Stem Cell Therapy can be compared to a bone marrow transplant, which is known to be a successful treatment for a variety of malignant, autoimmune and genetic diseases. The primary advantage of Fetal Stem Cell transplantation is that unlike a traditional bone marrow, or umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant, there is no need for the difficult and at times futile attempt to find a donor match.
The Fetal Stem Cell does not have antigenicity (a cellular fingerprint) therefore they can be given to anyone without any rejection phenomena, thereby eliminating the use of immunosuppressive therapy (drugs that suppress the much needed immune system).
Graft versus Host Reaction (where the donor cells attack the recipient, a dangerous and potentially fatal complication of bone marrow and umbilical cord transplantation) does not exist in Fetal Stem Cell therapy.
Due to their controlled ability to rapidly proliferate, and their immediate release of growth factors, the Fetal Stem Cells are capable of, at times, quickly reversing lost functions.
These properties of the Fetal Stem Cell allow for unique treatment intervention in a multiplicity of diseases for a large group of patients who up until now have not had any means for recovery.
Patient Benefits
A large number of patients have been treated with Fetal Stem Cell Therapy, with by current standards, remarkable physical and psychological improvements.
The range of human diseases currently viewed as candidates for fetal stem cell therapy is enormous and is continually expanding.
Although it is still considered to be an experimental treatment in the United States, Human Fetal Stem Cell Therapy has been performed in other countries.
At the present time the therapy is administered in the Dominican Republic. Rarely has a single treatment modality offered so much promise to those suffering from some of mankind’s worst afflictions.
February 7th, 2006
How common is “Prostate Cancer” and what are the Symptoms?
Prostate Cancer Symptoms can be hard to detect but it helps to know what you are looking for. In this article Prostate Cancer Symptoms: Prostate Treatment, Radiation and more, my goal is to briefly introduce you to Prostate Cancer so that you have an outline of important information if you ever find yourself, or someone you love in this situation.
How common is Prostate Cancer? How do I know if I have prostate cancer? These are very important questions. Prostate Cancer is the second most common form of cancer in men and is usually found in men over 50 years of age. The best protection you can offer yourself from this life threatening disease, is to arm yourself with the knowledge that will help you to detect it early on. The faster you pick up on these Symptoms, the better off you will be.
Prostate Cancer Symptoms:
- Difficulty starting to pass urine
- Weak or intermittent flow of urine
- Dribbling of urine before and after urinating
- Frequent or urgent need to pass urine
- Need to get up several times in the night to urinate
- Bladder never feels completely empty
Occasionally finding blood in the urineOne of the most common symptoms listed above is the difficulty starting to pass urine, but keep your eye out for the others. If you have any of these symptoms for prostate cancer, you should see a qualified doctor as soon as possible.
Most of the time if the cancer has not spread, treatment with Radiation Therapy will be the recommended procedure. Another common form of treatment is Radical Prostatectomy. This procedure involves having the whole prostate and its dependent parts removed. This is a very intense operation and is only recommended for those in good health. Doctors also commonly recommend hormone therapy to help suppress your testosterone levels. This will slow down the division process of the cancer. Hormone therapy can be used alone or with other procedures like radiation treatment.
Chemotherapy uses chemicals to kill cancer cells, but Chemotherapy is only used when the cancer has spread past the prostate. The drugs used in chemotherapy are administered on an outpatient basis and do not typically require a hospital stay. I defiantly recommend researching the various treatment options in depth as the topic is worthy of a relatively large book.
December 19th, 2005
Children are very susceptible to illnesses, in part because their immune systems are not fully mature.
Breastfeeding of course provides some immunity to common illnesses, but nowadays most children are weaned by the time they are 1 year old. Children also have a habit of exploring the world around them with their mouths and their hands. Anything that comes into contact with their mouth and hands can potentially cause an illness. The good news is that the more your child is exposed the stronger their immune systems will become, and their ability to fight off infection in the future.
Some of the most common childhood illnesses and symptoms to be on the look out are listed below:
Colds/Cough – Cold and coughs are usually caused by viral infections, thus must be spread by person to person contact, not through the weather alone. Common symptoms of a cold include a stuffy nose, cough, possible sore throat and occasionally a temperature. Colds can become more severe and result in bronchitis, pneumonia and ear infections. Signs that a cold is becoming worse and may need medical treatment include green or yellow nasal discharge, fever lasting more than one day or a persistent and wheezy cough.
Flu – The flu is characterized by headaches, chills, muscle aches and a high fever. Respiratory symptoms may also develop, and a feeling of fatigue which may last for several weeks after initial symptoms. The flu is also spread from person to person contact usually with respiratory secretions of someone who is sick. Antibiotics can’t treat the flu. Treatment often consists of rest, fluids and Tylenol.
Ear Infections – This is perhaps the most common infection affecting children. Ear infections happen when bacteria enter the ear from the nose or throat. Usually an ear infection is accompanied by a fever and possibly pus draining from the ear. Symptoms may include pain, fever, dizziness and irritability. Usually Tylenol will provide some relieve. Though ear infections aren’t contagious, the viral infections that cause them are. Some children will develop repetitious ear infections, usually associated with a problem with the tube that passes between the throat and the middle ear.
Chicken Pox – Chicken pox is probably the most common infectious disease that affects preschool and school age children. Symptoms usually include an itchy rash and blisters, sometimes coupled with a fever. Chicken pox can also be transmitted to adults, and is usually a much more serious illness. The good news is a chicken pox vaccine is available for babies 1 year of age or older.
One of the best things you can do to help your child is try to minimize their exposure to illness by encouraging frequent hand washing. Most illnesses are spread when a child touches something the virus has settled on and then touches their face. Practicing good habits at home will help encourage your child to limit their exposure and the spread of illness to other family members.
Collected from the internet.
December 18th, 2005
In today’s image conscious society, physical appearance is more important than ever to a woman’s self-esteem. Imagine the heartache caused when a woman notices her hair thinning? It is estimated that over 25 million women experience thinning hair in the United States. Many are genetically predisposed to the condition. Most wonder if there are any natural remedies to help or prevent their female hair loss.
Several vitamins have been found to be very effective in supporting female hair health. Of course, many factors may contribute to female hair loss but proper nutrition can help prevent further thinning and more loss.
Vitamin A has been found to support the healthy development of tissues and cells in the body and also supports healthy hair. This important vitamin promotes healthy hair follicles by keeping the root of the hair lubricated. Vitamin A can be found in green vegetables, particularly the leafy ones, red, orange and yellow vegetables, liver and eggs. Many good multivitamins contain the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A, so don’t take additional supplements without a physician’s supervision. Overdoses of vitamin A can be dangerous.
A healthy scalp is also essential to healthy hair. Vitamin E supports a healthy scalp by helping to increase the oxygen supplied through the blood. Americans rarely suffer from a vitamin E deficiency, but increasing one’s intake of green leafy vegetables, fortified grains and cereals and nuts can help ensure that this important nutrient is adequate. Vitamin E supplements are also available for this matter.
The B vitamins are also important for hair health. Regulating the amount of iron in the blood, these vitamins also help oxygen flow through the lungs to the tissues. Of course, a B vitamin deficiency would damage the hair and scalp by limiting the amount of oxygen that these tissues receive. B vitamins are available as supplements and in several foods, including proteins and soybeans, cereals, nuts and wheat germ.
If a proper nutrition that involves essential vitamins and minerals helps in hair loss prevention and a good healthy scalp, then paying extra attention to the food and supplements that you eat is well worth the time and effort!
Collected from the internet.
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