When we look over articles and new medical conditions for Multiple Sclerosis, we sometimes run into other health related issues or diseases and we wanted to include those as much as possible with everything else.
Gene Variant Associated With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease IdentifiedResearchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have, for
the first time, identified a gene variant on chromosome 4 that may be a
potential risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and
one of the most prevalent disabling diseases of adults.
According to
the researchers, cigarette smoking is the primary risk factor for
impaired lung function, yet only 20 percent of smokers develop COPD.
This observation, along with family studies of lung function and COPD,
suggests that genetic factors influence susceptibility to cigarette
smoke.
The researchers performed a genome-wide association study on 7,691
Framingham Heart Study participants to identify a relationship between
common genetic variants and measures of lung function. The identified
variants on chromosome 4 were then examined and confirmed in an
independent set of 835 Family Heart Study participants.
To Read Full Article:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090319224528.htm
American College Of Physicians Launches Free Web-based Resource To Improve COPD Care
Article Date: 24 Apr 2009 - The American College of Physicians (ACP) today announced the ACP COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) Portal (http://copd.acponline.org
). The Web site provides concise answers to specific clinical and
practice-management questions for internists, other health care
professionals, and patients and their families.
COPD is a serious disease involving the
airways and lung tissue that over time makes it difficult to breathe.
More than 12 million people are currently diagnosed with COPD and an
additional 12 million likely have the disease and don't even know it.
"Our goals for the ACP COPD Portal," said Steven E. Weinberger, MD,
FACP, ACP's deputy executive vice president and senior vice president
for medical education and publishing, "are to increase physician
awareness of what constitutes high-quality, evidence-based COPD care;
increase awareness of the gap between current practice and acceptable
standards of care for COPD; and provide information for affected
patients to help them manage the disease and any complications."
To see full article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147469.php
Seasonal vaccine no help against swine fluAssociated Press - April 26, 2009-ATLANTA
(AP) - U.S. health officials say they are "very pessimistic" that the
seasonal flu vaccine protects against the unique swine flu infecting
people in the United States, Mexico and other countries.
A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official said
Sunday afternoon that tests of the seasonal vaccine and the new virus
show no cross-reaction, suggesting that people who got the vaccine have
no added protection against the new bug.
It's possible that people who have been exposed to flu viruses every
year - especially older people, with a greater exposure history - may
have some natural immunity, the CDC official said in a call with
reporters.
Molecular Fingerprints Point The Way To Earlier Cancer Diagnosis And More Targeted TreatmentScienceDaily (Mar. 27, 2009) — Metabolites
are molecular fingerprints of what your cells are up to and Dr. Arun
Sreekumar wants to know the impression made by cancer.
You've likely heard about metabolites; your physician probably
screens for some known ones such as triglycerides or cholesterol at
your annual physical. Scientists suspect we have about 3,000
metabolites that come from our food or are synthesized from different
compounds in our bodies.
Dr. Sreekumar, a cancer researcher at the Medical College of Georgia
Cancer Center, wants those screens of the blood or urine to also detect
early signs of cancers such as leukemia, bladder, kidney and breast
when the chance for cure is best.
He's already begun to identify metabolites that indicate not only
the presence of prostate cancer, but its aggressiveness, a tool that
could help tailor optimal treatment. The search began in men at risk:
those with elevated prostate specific antigen, or PSA, levels. A PSA
test along with a digital rectal exam is today's standard for prostate
screening so physicians typically do both in men age 50 and older. But
PSA levels are actually better at helping determine if prostate cancer
has returned, Dr. Sreekumar says.
To Read Full Article:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090323110500.htm
WHO declares international concern over swine flu
By FRANK JORDANS, Associated Press Writer Frank Jordans, Associated Press Writer
–
Sat Apr 25, 4:56 pm ET
GENEVA – The World Health Organization
warned countries around the world Saturday to be on alert for any
unusual flu outbreaks after a unique new swine flu virus was implicated
in possibly dozens of human deaths in North America.
WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said the outbreak in Mexico and the United States constituted a "public health emergency of international concern."
The
decision means countries around the world will be asked to step up
reporting and surveillance of the disease, which she said had "pandemic
potential" because it is an animal virus strain infecting people. But
the agency cannot at this stage say "whether or not it will indeed
cause a pandemic," she added.
Chan made the
decision to declare public health emergency of international concern
after consulting with influenza experts from around the world. The
emergency committee was called together Saturday for the first time
since it was created in 2007.
In theory, WHO could now recommend travel advisories, trade restrictions or border closures, none of which would be binding. So far it has refrained from doing so.
The agency also held off raising its pandemic alert level, citing the need for more information.
Earlier,
Chan told reporters that "it would be prudent for health officials
within countries to be alert to outbreaks of influenza-like illness or
pneumonia, especially if these occur in months outside the usual peak
influenza season."
"Another important signal is
excess cases of severe or fatal flu-like illness in groups other than
young children and the elderly, who are usually at highest risk during
normal seasonal flu," she said.
Several Latin American and Asian countries have already started surveillance or screening at airports and other points of entry.
At
least 62 people have died from severe pneumonia caused by a flu-like
illness in Mexico, WHO says. Some of those who died are confirmed to
have a unique flu type that is a combination of bird, pig and human
viruses. The virus is genetically identical to one found in California.
U.S. authorities said eight people were infected with swine flu in California and Texas, and all recovered.
So far, no other countries have reported suspicious cases, according to WHO.
But the French government said suspected cases are likely to occur in the coming days because of global air travel. A French government crisis group began operating Saturday. The government has already closed the French school in Mexico City and provided French citizens there with detailed instructions on precautions.
To Read Full Article:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090425/ap_on_re_eu/un_un_mexico_swine_flu
Swine flu cases up to 7; officials expand probeBy MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer - Thu Apr 23~ATLANTA - Health officials are investigating a never-before-seen form
of the flu that combines pig, bird and human viruses and which has
infected seven people in
California
and Texas. All the victims recovered, but the cases are a growing
medical mystery because it's unclear how they caught the virus.
To Read Full Article:
http://health.yahoo.com/news/ap/med_swine_flu.html
Heart Attack, Stroke and Cardiac Arrest Warning SignsQuick Links:
Heart Attack Warning Signs
Stroke Warning Signs
Cardiac Arrest Warning Signs
Heart Attack Warning Signs
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the "movie heart
attack," where no one doubts what's happening. But most heart attacks
start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected
aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here
are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
As with men, women's most common heart
attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more
likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms,
particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.
Learn the signs, but remember this: Even if
you're not sure it's a heart attack, have it checked out (tell a doctor
about your symptoms). Minutes matter! Fast action can save lives —
maybe your own. Don’t wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1.
Calling 9-1-1 is almost always the fastest way
to get lifesaving treatment. Emergency medical services (EMS) staff can
begin treatment when they arrive — up to an hour sooner than if someone
gets to the hospital by car. EMS staff are also trained to revive
someone whose heart has stopped. Patients with chest pain who arrive by
ambulance usually receive faster treatment at the hospital, too. It is
best to call EMS for rapid transport to the emergency room.
If you can't access the emergency medical services (EMS), have someone drive you to the hospital right away.
Understanding Depression
While sadness touches all of our
lives at different times, the illness of depression can have enormous
depth and staying power. Even the ancient Greeks noted how disabling it
could be, and that it was more than a passing bout of sadness or
dejection, or feeling down in the dumps. If you have ever suffered from
depression or been close to someone who has, you know that this illness
cannot be lifted at will or wished or joked away. A man in the grip of
depression can't solve his problems by showing a little more backbone.
Nor can a woman who is depressed simply shake off the blues.
To Read More: http://www.everydayhealth.com/depression/understanding/what-is-depression.aspxLyme disease is an infection
that is spread by ticks. You can get Lyme disease if you are bitten by an
infected tick. But most people who have had a tick bite do not get Lyme
disease. It’s still important to see your doctor if you have a tick attached to
you that you can't remove.
Lyme disease is common in the United
States. It can also be found in Canada, Europe, and Asia.
Lyme disease is caused
by bacteria. Infected ticks spread the bacteria by biting people or
animals.
Two types of ticks carry the Lyme disease bacteria in the
U.S. They are:
Flu-like symptoms are also
very common. People in the early stages of Lyme disease may feel very tired and
have headaches, sore muscles and joints, and a fever.
These
symptoms can start at any time, from 3 days up to a month after you have been
bitten. Some people don't have any symptoms when they are in the early stages
of Lyme disease. And they may not even remember getting a tick bite.
If Lyme disease goes untreated, you can have more serious symptoms over
time. These include:
Your doctor will
ask you questions about your symptoms. A round, red rash may be a sign of Lyme
disease. Your doctor will also ask about your activities to try to find out if
you have been around infected ticks. You may have a blood test to see if you
have certain
antibodies in your blood that could mean you have the
disease.
It’s important to get
treatment for Lyme disease as soon as you can. Talk to your doctor if you have
had a tick attached to your skin, especially if you live in an area where Lyme
disease has been reported. Look for early signs of the disease, such as a
round, red rash that gets bigger or symptoms like those you'd get with the
flu.