Lisa Querry

   Usually when one hears the word maggot we don’t associate it with anything good or interesting, but for once maggots are good or so some think!  These slimy creatures have been demonstrated to do excellent things for wound healing.  Maggot debridement therapy is the use of live larvae to go into wounds and clean out the dead tissue so they can heal much faster.  As gross as this may seem it is actually very beneficial for bad wounds, some have been using this method dating back to before written history!

In the United States medical maggots are regulated by the food and drug administration for medical use only.  This process takes two to three days of the maggots being inside of a wound covered with special dressing.  The maggots natural instinct is to migrate away from clean tissue so it goes and gets rid of all of the bad.  Cleaning throughout the wound, these maggots promote healthy tissue growth.

The use of Maggot therapy is still going strong today; in 2011 approximately 50,000 wounds were being treated with this process. Although it may seem scary, it is much more efficient then any antibiotic or topical treatment for a wound.  These can be most beneficial for people who have chronic wounds such as pressure ulcers, neuropathic foot ulcers, and non-healing traumatic or post surgical wounds.  So before you see the word maggot and get utterly repulsed, think about the benefits that you could reap from this larva and how it could help if you had a serious wound!

“Medical Maggots™ (maggot Therapy, Maggot Debridement Therapy, MDT, Biotherapy, Biosurgery, Biodebridement, Larval Therapy).” Welcome. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2013.

ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2013.

Blog 2 (Skin Testing for Allergies and Disease)

I decided to write my second blog on the integumentary system. The integumentary system includes the skin, hair, and nails. The integumentary system does a lot of things for the body. It helps protect body, serves as a waterproof layer, and regulates the temperature for the body. The system also does more. I am basing my blog off of allergies. An allergy is an abnormal response to the immune system. Although it effects the immune system, it also effects the integumentary system.

Skin testing for allergies is used to figure out what is causing your allergy symptoms. This method is used on your skin by pricking or scratching. The doctors then wait to see how your skin reacts to the allergy they used. The three main test are: scratch test or prick test,  intradermal test, and patch test. The doctors decide what type of test that the patient needs. For the scratch test (prick test) the doctor or nurse simply puts an extract or many extracts on your skin, and wait to see if your skin reacts to it. For the intradermal test, a small amount of allergen is injected into skin (somewhat that of a tuberculosis test). The last and final test is the patch test. The doctors or nurses put the allergen on the patch and then put the path on your skin.

The skin testing for allergies or diseases could help in society, because it will help people realize what they are allergic to. My mother never knew what she was allergic to until she went to the doctor and did the prick test. If she had not of found out that she was allergic to kookaburras, they doctors said that her throat could close up if she got close to one. One of these skin tests could possibly save someone’s life.

Tortora, Gerald J., and Bryan Derrickson. Principles of Anatomy & Physiology. 13th ed. N.p.:        n.p.,n.d. Print.

Johnson, Kimball, MD. “Skin Testing for Allergies.” WebMD. WebMD, 03 Jan. Web. 06 Oct.         2013.

The Ambras syndrome and hypertrichosis occurs when someone has abnormally excessive body hair. The entire body is covered with fine body hair except the palms, soles and genitalia on an individual with Ambras syndrome. On hypertrichosis patients only have fine hair on their face, nose, ear, and shoulders. The hair could be as long as several centimeters.

Hypertrichosis is believed to be inherited, but is still unknown. Hypertrichosis was once thought to be an example of atavism, which is the recurrence in a animal of certain primitive characteristics, and at one time was thought to be the missing ape-human association needed to prove Darwin’s theory. In two cases, Ambras syndrome was found associated with the complex rearrangements of chromosome 8. Both have been found to have an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. Hypertrichosis can occur until the average age of 2. Ambras Syndrome has increased hair growth throughout their lifetime.

In the United States, both of these diseases are extremely rare, but internationally there have been fewer than 50 cases found.  Researchers found in a large Mexican family with X-linked congenital genetic hypertrichosis the first genetic locus for human hypertrichosis was identified by a common relation analysis. There is a 1 in a billion chance that you can get Ambras syndrome. There are few treatments for Ambras syndrome and hypertrichosis but some have used laser hair removal, vaniqa cream, repeated shaving, and some chemical methods. For years these people have been seen mostly on the hit TV shows Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

Works cited

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1072987-overview

http://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/rare/10-bizarre-medical-conditions.htm

The American Journal of Human Genetics, Volume 88, Issue 6, 10 June 2011, Pages 819–826 doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2011.05.004

Scoliosis is an abnormal sideways curve of the spinal cord. The word “scolio” means crooked. When you look at a person from the back that does not have scoliosis their spinal cord and back appears to be in a straight line. However, when you look at a person with scoliosis there spinal cord and upper back makes a “c” shape. Scoliosis is a vertebral deformity that you are born with.
Dr. Ikuyo Kou and Dr. Shiro Ikegawa did a study in Japan at the Riken center to see if or what genetic factors are associated with scoliosis. Their study consisted of 1,819 Japanese individuals that were diagnosed with scoliosis compared to 25,939 Japanese individuals who did not have scoliosis. They compared the genes of these individuals who participated in their study and found that on chromosome 6 there was a gene associated with scoliosis. Researchers believe that the gene is, GPR126, and is highly expressed in cartilage and that leads to delayed bone growth and tissue formation in delevoping spine.
This research can greatly affect people will scoliosis. As of now, one method of “treatment” is wearing a back brace which is supposed to keep the curve from progressing any further. Another method would be having surgery, which is, a method of going into the vertebral column and attaching metal rods that are supposed to force the spinal cord to straighten. Both of these methods help but I am sure people who have scoliosis would like to have more options of treatment and that can be achieved in the future with this amazing discovery the Riken center made.

                                                                                                                  Work Citied
RIKEN. “Gene associated with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis identified.” ScienceDaily, 12 May 2013. Web. 3 Oct. 2013.                     http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130512140943.htm
Tortora G.J. and B. Derrickson. 2012. Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. 13th ed., John Wiley and Sons

Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones where you have low bone mass. Osteoporosis can affect anyone, but women are most likely to get it. The reason women get osteoporosis more frequently is because the bones in the body are not depositing as much calcium as your body is absorbing. It mainly takes a toll on the upper portion of your body like the vertebrae, wrist, and hips, although it can affect the whole skeletal system. Osteoporosis can also  cause many other issues like shrinkage in height, bone pain, and a hunch in your back. More women often have osteoporosis, because their estrogen levels quickly decline after menopause. (Tortora, 203)

In the article, “Osteoporosis risk factors after menopause”, it states that a study was done on a group of Portuguese women that had gone through menopause. They wanted to find out if they could find any common factors linked to osteoporosis. They looked at the bone mass density by the use of DEXA, dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. DEXA can tell you if you are at high risk for fracture. They are trying to come up with a drug that is  affordable for people with ostopenia to prevent it from progressing to osteoporosis.

I feel that people should know about this disease because it is so widely known in women. The more information you retain about osteoporosis, the better you can deal with it. I know several people that have osteoporosis and this disease has taken control of their life. It is physically hard for someone to stay active when you have osteoporosis. This could also lead to depression.

Inderscience, “Osteoporosis risk factor after menopause.” Science Daily. 13 Nov. 2012. Web. 6 Oct. 2013

Tortora G.J. and B. Derrickson, 2012. Principals of Anatomy and Physiology. 13th ed., John Wiley and Sons

James Ganier

October 2,2013

Osteoporosis Warning Test

 Osteoporosis is a medical condition in which there is a decrease in bone mass and density. This decrease creates a breakdown of the bone tissue and makes fractures more likely. Osteoporosis affects 10 million people a year in the United States. Osteoporosis results in more than one and a half million fractures a year. However, researchers at the University of Southampton are testing a portable device to diagnose signs of osteoporosis.

  Researchers are currently testing a new device that has been developed to measure bone tissue to diagnose signs of signs of osteoporosis, which can lead to full-blown fractures. . For this new medical device, researchers push a microscopic needle into the superficial layer of bone. This amount of penetration exhibits how brittle the bone tissue is and the risk of a possible osteoporotic fracture later on in life.

  Previous methods to access bone fragility included using x-rays to measure bone density. This new technology introduces a new and unique measurement that will have a significant impact on diagnosing and treating osteoporosis. This new device has big potential for improving the assessment of osteoporosis and future fracture risk. This new devicecould reduce the overwhelming broken bone cases for the United States healthcare system and economy. New diagnostic techniques, like this portable device, are crucial to the development of understanding osteoporosis and bone health.

Works Cited:

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). “ Portable, low-cost early warning test for osteoporosis.” Science Daily, 17. Sep. 2013. Web 6 Oct 2013

Tortora, Gerald J and Bryan Derrickson. Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. Hobokon: John Wiley & Sons. Inc 2012. Print

Healthy bone growth is a necessity for maintaining homeostasis in the human body.  The skeletal system protects, supports, and aids movement of the body.  However, humans are not born with healthy, hard bones.  As infants, we are born with cartilage and soft bones in the place of many of our adult bones.  The bones grow and harden as the infant grows older.  They do this through the synthesis of vitamin D.

As adults, most of the vitamin D that is synthesized comes from direct sunlight.  This is why doctors recommended we get fifteen minutes of sun exposure a day.  On the other hand, infants cannot withstand much direct sunlight.  They often require supplements of vitamin D in order to help the growth of healthy bones.  So, what is a healthy amount of vitamin D for an infant?

A study was conducted by School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition at McGill University along with the Department of Pediatrics to find the perfect amount of vitamin D supplement needed for the growth of healthy bone.  Many countries have recommended amounts, but all the amounts differ.  The study consisted of132 infants.  The infants were randomly assigned to groups receiving different doses of vitamin D ranging from 400 IU per day to 1600 IU per day.  This was done over a 12 month period.

The infants’ growth was measured over the course of these 12 months.  However, at 3 months, the infants who received more than 400 IU per day showed no difference in growth than the ones receiving 400 IU.  The study concluded that infants only need 400 IU of vitamin D per day in order to grow healthy. The extra amounts do not provide any extra help to the infants.

The study has set a base of knowledge for future and current parents.  This knowledge will ease the parents’ minds while also growing healthy bones in their children.  Infants can still grow healthy bones without the extra vitamin D.  Therefore, this study disproved the statement “more is better” when it comes to the growth of bones in our little ones.

McGill University (2013, April 30). The right amount of vitamin D for babies: 400 IU daily dose for suggested for infants under one year of age. ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 6, 2013, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2013/04/130430194039.htm

Justice Holliday

Research on MS

(New technique for imaging myelin loss and repair shows potential for identifying compounds with future potential to treat MS)

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects that brain and spinal cord. Some background on what myelin is. According to A&P the principles of anatomy and physiology, “Myelin sheaths are the multilayered lipid and protein coverings, formed by Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes, around axons of many peripheral and central nervous system neurons.” Doctors’s commonly use MRI’s to look at brain disease activity but they have to develop a new way to look at the brains activity because an MRI is not sensitive enough to reveal specific information in the brain.

Dr. Wang and colleagues have created a new way to see specific areas that are inflamed in brain by injected a molecular probe called MeDAS into the blood stream. The MeDAS binds with the myelin. They injected several lab rats with the MeDAS and the used PET imaging and they found exactly were the myelin was lost to were as it was still intact. They treated the rats with an experimental drug that is supposed to stimulate myelin repair.

This new drug can help people with MS because it shows exactly where myelin is lost and where it is active so that they will know if inflammation is present in the brain because people with MS have inflammation in the brain. Since the new drug can show where the inflammation is in the brain, maybe doctors will be able to reduce the amount of inflammation and slow down the process. With new drugs and technology sciences may be able to find a cure to MS.

Citations

“New technique for imaging myelin loss and repair shows potential for identifying compounds with future potential to treat MS.” National Muliple Sclerosis Society. National Muliple Sclerosis Society, 03 Oct 2013. Web. 13 Oct 2013.

Tortora, Gerard, and Bryan Derrickson. A&P principles of anatomy and physiology. 13th ed. Danvers: John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2011. G 18. Print.

The article, “Hydrotherapy for Burns,” touches on the treatment of hydrotherapy and how it can positively affect burn victims. Hydrotherapy is externally treating burns by using water. Hydrotherapy promotes healing by softening and removing the dead tissue and enabling new, healthy tissue to form. Although hydrotherapy can be immensely painful, it is a reassuring thought to know that a natural element such as water can play such a huge part in the treatment and healing of burns.

“Hydrotherapy for Burns” touched on the treatment of hydrotherapy in several aspects. Not only is hydrotherapy used in regular households when one runs water over a burn, but some hospitals practice it as well by having a room dedicated to hydrotherapy. Burn patients in hospitals usually receive hydrotherapy on a daily basis, and treatment begins immediately after a day or two of burn recovery and shock. The patient can either go through hydrotherapy immersion, or shower hydrotherapy. Warm, running water with an addition of antiseptics that are optional to help treat the burns will be what is used for hydrotherapy. Pain medications and general anesthetics will be given to relieve the pain that hydrotherapy brings. Physical therapy is used because if they are able, they are told to engage in movements that will get them involved with the session. When patients get engaged with the session, more comfort, less pain, and a better healing outcome is experienced. As one can tell, burns are an extremely serious accident that can be extremely harmful and deadly if not treated properly, and hydrotherapy is one way to get a patient back on track to healthy healing.

Burns are an extremely serious matter that people need to have the knowledge on. A burn can happen to anyone in the blink of an eye, so knowing how a burn can be helped and treated is an important aspect of knowledge that every individual should obtain. Hydrotherapy should be a piece of information that is instilled in everyone simply because burns are so common. Options for treating burns should be known to everyone.

Burns. Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters. 2013. Web. 6 October 6, 2013.

Hydrotherapy for Burns. altMD.com. 2013. Web. 3 October 2013.