Monthly Archives: December 2013

Dec
06
2013

Osteoporosis: A New Possible Treatment

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When we are young, our mothers always stress to us that we need to drink our milk so that our bones grow to be strong and healthy. What we don’t realize at the time is that our mom is right. When we are young, our bones grow and grow until we become an adult. What happens next is the question. According to Gerard Tortora and Bryan Derrickson, “osteoporosis affects 10 Million people a year in the United States” (Tortora and Derrickson 203). Osteoporosis is a bone disorder where your bones start to loose bone mass due to your body losing calcium. Osteoporosis primarily affects middle-aged and elderly women (Tortora and Derrickson  203).

Dr. Rhut believes he has found a way to use hormones in the body to help fight osteoporosis. In recent studies that Dr. Rhut has done, he has found that by using negative allosteric modulators to release parathyroid hormones into the bloodstream, this will stimulate new bone formation. When your concentration of calcium is too low, your body senses this. It will then release PTH. This will raise your calcium concentration until the calcium sensing receptors on the parathyroid cell are activated. Once activated, it reduces PTH release (arthritis foundation).

The negative allosteric modulators will take a quite a few more years before they will be passed to use on patients. If passed, this will definitely help cut down on the amount of people that have osteoporosis. This will reduce the risk of so many hip fractures, or fractures in general, in the elderly population. This will also help with bone shrinkage, height loss, hunched backs, and bone pain (Tortora and Derrickson).

 

 

Tortora, Gerard J., and Derrickson, Bryan. Principles of Anatomy & Phisiology .13th ed.  Hoboken:

John  Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2011. Print.

“Turning on Hormones to Fight Osteoporosis.” Research Alert. Arthritis Foundation, 2008. Web. 6 Oct.

2013.

Dec
06
2013

Osteoporosis: A New Possible Treatment

Posted by

When we are young, our mothers always stress to us that we need to drink our milk so that our bones grow to be strong and healthy. What we don’t realize at the time is that our mom is right. When we are young, our bones grow and grow until we become an adult. What happens next is the question. According to Gerard Tortora and Bryan Derrickson, “osteoporosis affects 10 Million people a year in the United States” (Tortora and Derrickson 203). Osteoporosis is a bone disorder where your bones start to loose bone mass due to your body losing calcium. Osteoporosis primarily affects middle-aged and elderly women (Tortora and Derrickson  203).

Dr. Rhut believes he has found a way to use hormones in the body to help fight osteoporosis. In recent studies that Dr. Rhut has done, he has found that by using negative allosteric modulators to release parathyroid hormones into the bloodstream, this will stimulate new bone formation. When your concentration of calcium is too low, your body senses this. It will then release PTH. This will raise your calcium concentration until the calcium sensing receptors on the parathyroid cell are activated. Once activated, it reduces PTH release (arthritis foundation).

The negative allosteric modulators will take a quite a few more years before they will be passed to use on patients. If passed, this will definitely help cut down on the amount of people that have osteoporosis. This will reduce the risk of so many hip fractures, or fractures in general, in the elderly population. This will also help with bone shrinkage, height loss, hunched backs, and bone pain (Tortora and Derrickson).

 

 

Tortora, Gerard J., and Derrickson, Bryan. Principles of Anatomy & Phisiology .13th ed.  Hoboken:

John  Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2011. Print.

“Turning on Hormones to Fight Osteoporosis.” Research Alert. Arthritis Foundation, 2008. Web. 6 Oct.

2013.

Dec
06
2013

Fetal Bone Marrow Transplant

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Bone marrow transplants are procedures that involve transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells. It is mainly done on people with bone marrow or blood cancer and even some diseases. Bone marrow transplants are very dangerous and have many complications; it is mainly for patients with life threatening diseases. The reason why this is very dangerous is because you really don’t have an immune system because of all the chemotherapy and radiation you have to go through. When you kill the immune system you are more vulnerable to viruses, but it also gives the new bone marrow a better chance to work. It is like that saying, a clean slate. If you try to do a transplant with cancer cells the transplant has a less chance of taking because it does not have any good cells to work with and the immune system would see the good marrow as bad marrow and attack it.  Now I am going to tell you why fetal bone marrow is the best source of stem cells for transplantation.

A study done by Maria Michejda, a Ph.D at Georgetown, found out that fetal bone marrow, from spontaneous abortions, is eight times more effective than umbilical cord blood, and twenty-three more times effective than adult bone marrow, for bone marrow transplantation. The reason for this is because fetal bone marrow contains the highest concentration of CD34+ cells, which is just the cells that are responsible for creating new blood cells, and it also contains the lowest concentration of CD-3. CD-3 cells are the cells that identify and reject foreign tissue. CD-3 cells are the main reasons transplants do not work.

Fetal bone marrow transplants will begin to change the way people do things. Before you start to think that fetal bone marrow comes from living babies think again. Fetal bone marrow does not put babies in pain or anything because it is not taken from them; it is taken from spontaneous abortions. Now when women have miscarriages they can take the bone marrow and save it for people that needs transplants. This will benefit the world in the long run because most bone marrow will accept FMB, instead of treating it like a foreign object. So this will cause more people to recover from bone marrow transplants instead of reject it and die

 

Bibliography

http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/b/bone_marrow_transplant.htm

Bone Marrow Transplant.” ScienceDaily, 6 Jun. 1997. Web. 6 Oct. 2013.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone_marrow_transplant

Bone Marrow Transplant.”Wikipedia, 6 Jun. 1997. Web. 6 Oct. 2013.

 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1997/06/970606123807.htm

Transplantation.” ScienceDaily, 6 Jun. 1997. Web. 6 Oct. 2013.

Dec
06
2013

Most Common Type of Burn

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Carly Tyler

 

 

The most common type of burn within children!!

During an epidemiological study within the Kidhealth.org, they reported that over 2,055 children between the ages of 1-4 are admitted in the hospitals each year because of injuries due to burns. 500 children within this age group are treated and released each year due to burn injuries. We all know that little children like to touch everything and most of the time we do not always realize what those little hands are reaching for.

Burns are categorized in three different types, first, second, and third degree. These depended on how bad the skin is damaged.

The most common type of burn within children is scalding. A scald is caused by contact with “wet heat” such as hot liquids, bath water, steam, hot foods, drinks or cooking liquids. This usually happens in kitchens where the food is prepared. Also, the children having contact or touching the hot tap water or steam from the microwave or bathtubs.  Scalds are usually most prevalent with children under the age of five.

The most dangerous place for a child to be is in the kitchen. It is best to keep your kids out of the kitchen while preparing meals. You need to try to teach your children that the stove is a “NO-KID-ZONE”

 

 

“KidsHealth.” Burns. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2013. <http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/burns.html>.

 

http://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/injury_prevention/children/fact_sheets/young_children_1-4_years/burn_and_scald_prevention_1-4_years.htm

 

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/medication-safety/Pages/default.aspx

 

Dec
06
2013

DNA Defects

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                The basic double helix model for DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid, contains the four nitrogenous bases such as adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine. These four base pairs that come together, A only with T and C only with G, contain the genetic code in all living organisms.  As it says in my Anatomy and Physiology textbook, DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid, is what forms the genetic material for every human being. Not only do these genes determine our traits, but also they pass on hereditary information when a cell divides.

            According to the March 19th 2013, article How Proteins Read Meta DNA Code, scientists have developed more information about how to read DNA code. Scientists have found an actual second layer of code to read in the DNA. This second layer is found to be a mechanical code written down in the base pair sequence. They have created a computerized model of the nucleosome, and they introduced binding sites to the protein core. This model helped scientist when understanding of the sliding mechanism along the base pairs and the consequences of missing or extra pairs found within the DNA. The hereditary information passed along in DNA is complex and new developments in reading the code are helpful in learning how to evaluate and treat consequences of altered hereditary information in cell division.

            More and more knowledge and information has been obtained about the make-up of DNA and how it affects each person’s hereditary traits. Missing or extra pieces of the code alter the traits of individuals causing hereditary and congenital defects in varying degrees of severity. Increased knowledge of these little morsels of genetic material and the mechanisms by which they work can lead to discoveries of treatments or corrections of a multitude of defects such as Down Syndrome. Many families are impacted with a variety of DNA related defects from either extra, missing, or moved or altered genes in the DNA received from their parents. More understanding can lead to more testing and possibly more treatments for these individuals with altered traits during cell division.

 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130319091256.htm

Springer Science+Business Media. “How proteins read meta DNA code.” ScienceDaily, 19 Mar. 2013. Web. 13 Sep. 2013.

Tortora, Gerard J and Derrickson, Bryan. Principles of Anatomy and Physiology 13th Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2011. 13 Sep. 2013.

Dec
06
2013

The Aging of Skin

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Aging of skin is a consideration for many reasons. The aging process makes skin less elastic with decreased ability to heal. The skin is the body’s first line of defense and is vitally important to good health. Damage to the skin over the years is irreversible for the most part. Good skin care and damage prevention is the best defense against skin loss. Sun exposure is one of the main culprits in skin damage. It also is the main cause of melanoma skin cancer. Wrinkles can be lessened by the use of injectable botulinum toxin. This is only one of many aesthetic processes to try to hide aging. Damaged skin with actual loss of skin tissue and wound formation can be treated with a process called platelet gel.

According to the French Cancer and Aging Research Institute a gene possibly responsible for the changes in aging skin may be removable, thus halting the aging damage to skin. Damaged skin is more likely to develop wounds from a variety of injuries, surgeries, or trauma. Skin wounds provide a source for bacteria to grow. A procedure using a patient’s platelets in a gel form is one procedure that can promote wound healing and advance the production of new skin over wounds.  Another step to reducing the aging of skin is to avoid the sun. Protective clothing and diligent use of sunscreen are two methods to prevent sun damage and reduce the risk of malignant melanoma. Dermatologists recommend education of society about the warning signs of melanoma for early recognition and diagnosis. They suggest regular skin inspection for any visible changes to the skin. Malignant melanoma is a deadly form of cancer, and knowledge with proactive inspections can increase survival by rapid intervention and treatment.

Skin aging prevention, if possible, will assist people in maintaining healthy skin to protect the body. Aesthetic procedures, including the injection of bacteria into the skin to look less wrinkled, are popular among those trying to remain more youthful in appearance. Ultimately, the goal should be healthy skin.  Healthier skin is less apt to develop wounds that create routes for infection into the body. Platelet gel is one method of treating wounds in patients. Healing is altered by many factors including disease processes and mobility. Any enhancement to wound healing is beneficial to society in shorter healing time and complications including costs. Early melanoma detection is vital in reducing deaths in society. This step of skin inspection and knowledge of signs to discuss with one’s doctor will make a major contribution to the health of society.

 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130122101909.ht

http://www.prp.net.br/adm/pdf/Crovetti%202004%20Platelet%20Gel%20for%20chronic%20wounds.pdf

http://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/diseases-and-treatments/m—p/melanoma

“Keeping skin youthful: Skin aging regulator identified.” ScienceDaily, 22 Jan. 2013. Web. 6 Oct. 2013.

Tortora, Gerard J and Derrickson, Bryan. Principles of Anatomy and Physiology 13th Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2011. 13 Sep. 2013.

Dec
06
2013

Why Do Humans Need Sleep?

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Why Do Humans Need To Sleep?

            There are many theories behind the reasons why we need so much sleep. The evolutionary theory states, that the inactivity at night is an adaptation that serves as a survival function, by keeping us out of harm’s way at time when we would be particularly vulnerable. This behavioral theory has evolved to become what we now recognize as sleep. There are factors that can influence sleep patterns such as your physical size, muscle mass, and brain size. While you are sleeping, an anabolic process or building process restores the body’s energy supply that has been depleted throughout the day; also the body starts to repair itself and the muscle tissue is rebuilt and restored.

At times, we do not get nearly enough sleep that our body needs. Sleep deprivation can affect our personality, our sense of humor, we become irritable, and are less tolerant of the world around us. A lack of sleep can also affect our cognitive process. Without the proper amount of sleep and rest, our over worked neurons can no longer function to coordinate information properly. Fifty-six studies were reviewed at the Department of Neurology in Erfurt, Germany, that explored cognitive dysfunctions in people with sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD), insomnia, or narcolepsy. Individual study outcomes were grouped according to neuropsychological functions. Consistent evidence was found for impaired driving simulation performance in SRBD patients. Other neuropsychological functions with less obvious impairment included attention span, divided attention and sustained attention for SRBD patients;  attention span, verbal immediate memory and vigilance for insomniac patients, and  sustained attention, vigilance and driving simulation performance for narcoleptic patients.

There are a lot of ways to improve our sleeping habits such as avoiding caffeine, alcohol (which may bring on sleep, but after a few hours alcohol acts as a stimulant), and avoid smoking too close to bedtime. Always make your bedroom is a quiet, dark, and cool environment, and try to keep a constant sleep schedule. You should also lighten up on evening meals, balance your fluid intake later in the afternoon, and exercise earlier in the day, if possible. There are a few ways to seek treatment for sleep deprivation such as, going to a sleep specialist, who are trained to evaluate individuals for sleep disorders, and taking melatonin, which is a receptor agonist, that has been found effective for short term treatment of insomnia. When we are able to receive eight to nine hours of sleep a night, we are more alert, energetic, and are happier.

http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters

Fulda S., Schulz H. (2001) Cognitive dysfunction in sleep disorders. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 5(6), 423-445

Dec
06
2013

The Ins and Outs of Massaging

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Massaging, what people both young and old know to be a perfect stress reliever and muscle relaxer. Massages can relax tense muscle tissue by improving blood and lymph circulation, helping to bring nutrients to, and take waste products away from, our aching muscles.  Massages are capable of causing changes in your body that can alter the physiological aspects of how your body is structured.

By receiving a massage, that puts your body in the position of changing. These changes can occur in responses, the relaxation and mechanical response. The relaxation response is involuntary and it may occur when someone lightly touches you in a gentle fashion, making you feel relaxed. As studies are currently showing, the relaxation response is responsible for maintaining stable and slow heart and breathing rates, a decrease in blood pressure, an increase of serotonin levels, and a decrease in hormones produced during stress, while also relaxing your muscles.  The second response is the mechanical response, which is what provides alternative sources for blood and lymph circulation along with the relaxation of all the many muscle tissues in your body. Through massaging, your muscle tissues have the opportunity to improve function, which comes from nutrients and oxygen being transported to the muscle cells and wastes being transported away from them.   Swelling, muscle cramps, and spasms that may occur in your muscles all have the opportunity of diminishing during a mechanical response. Massaging can also potentially reduce nerve compression, which positively affects your muscles and organs. Massaging can bring about plenty of positive changes for the muscles and other parts of your body, which is crucial to a long, healthy life.

Let’s face it, there have been times in all of our lives where we longed for a massage to relieve us from the tension, cramps, and aches that were nestled within our muscles. Having a knowledge of the positive effects that the massaging on your body has can lead to a longer span of healthiness for your body. Knowing the encouraging facts about the outcome for frequent massaging on the body is a necessary element of knowledge for the up-keep of our bodies.

 

Cicetti, Fred. Do Massages Do Anything Besides Relax You? 16 Aug. 2011. Web. 30 Oct. 2013.

University of Minnesota. How Does Massage Work? 3 July. 2013. Web. 30 Oct. 2013.

 

 

 

Dec
06
2013

New Surgical Technique for Bell’s Palsy Facial Paralysis

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Bell’s palsy is a condition that triggers paralysis on one side of the patient’s face.  In this article a surgeon at A Loyola University Medical Center is trying a new surgical technique to treat Bell’s palsy.  It uses electrical stimulations to regain most of the damaged nerve. Many symptoms are not visible such as loss of ability to taste, pain behind the ear, numbness, increased sensitivity to sounds; while drooling  and the inability to close ones eye are clearly visible.

Leonetti said that most cases can be treated with oral steroids, but if the symptoms persist, he would recommend having surgery. This new technique is called microscopic decompression of the facial nerve. In this surgery the nerve covering is removed so it can swell and an electrical stimulator is used to send a current through the nerve. This in turn jump-starts the nerve to a rapid recovery.

Before the treatment can be administered a doctor must first understand why this condition has affected the patient. Due to modern technology blood tests, MRI’s, or a CT scans are done if the symptoms are not clear. Some potential causes include inflammation of facial nerves due to ear infections or ear surgeries. This new treatment’s results occur much quicker than the traditional way of treating Bell’s palsy.

“New Surgical Technique for Bell’s Palsy Facial Paralysis.” ScienceDaily. 1 Nov. 2013. 1 Nov. 2013 <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130611204432.htm>.

Tortora, Gerard J. Bryan Derrickson. A&P; principles of anatomy & physiology 13th edition. John Wiley & sons, inc 2011. Chapter 11.A Muscles of the Head That Produce Facial Expressions.

Dec
06
2013

New Theories Behind Muscle Fatigue

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What causes muscle fatigue? Is it simply overexertion, or is there something more? We know what causes muscle contraction. A stimulus is sent from the brain and down through the nerves of the body.  This causes an increase of calcium ions into the sarcoplasm. This overload of calcium causes release channels in the sarcoplasmic reticulum to open. This causes acetylcholine (ACh) to be released into the synaptic cleft between the motor neuron and the motor end plate. The Ach causes sodium channels to open, letting sodium flood into the muscle fiber. The flow makes the inside of muscle more positively charged. This charge triggers and action potential. This muscle action potential then propagates along the sarcolemma into the T tubules. This causes the sarcoplasmic reticulum to release its stored calcium into the sarcoplasm and the muscle fiber contracts (Tortora).

Now although that was a wordy, scientific definition of what is going on the basic things you should take from that is that you need: a stimulus, calcium, acetylcholine, and sodium for a muscle to contract. During muscle contraction and relaxation the influx of sodium and potassium ions are constantly changing. The exact influx of the ions has never been known until recently. Tom Clausen from Aarhus University conducted a study that now gives us some insight into how the ions vary with muscle activity (Rockefeller).

Clausen’s study measured the changes in concentration of sodium and potassium ions in the extensor digitorum longus (ESL) muscles of rats. His study found that when these muscles were stimulated for about five minutes there was a sufficient loss of potassium. This loss would lead to an extracellular concentration that would interfere with further excitation (movement/exercise). This study shows that extracellular concentrations of potassium play a bigger role in muscle fatigue than previously though (Rockefeller).

Although this information does not lead to any solutions for muscle fatigue, it does give us insight into particular channelopathies that affect skeletal muscle such as hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (Rockefeller). This research allows us to look further into muscle fatigue and deeper into how our bodies work. This is particularly helpful insight to a highly complex and important working system of the body.

 

Rockefeller University Press. “New insights into the mechanics of muscle fatigue.” ScienceDaily, 17 Jan. 2013. Web. 31 Oct. 2013.

 

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