Archive for October, 2010

deborah asked:

Can anyone help with the following, and include sources?

a. A description of the disease
b. Symptoms of the disease
c. What point mutation occurs and what amino acid is substituted
d. Current treatment

Technorati Tags: Amino Acid, Biology, Point Mutation

Treating Your Sinusitis Infection

Every year, numerous people suffer from sinusitis. There are many factors which contribute to these peoples sinusitis problems. Most commonly, the sinusitis will begin because of a cold or allergy though it can also develop because of fungal infections, reflux disease, and many other diseases such as cystic fibrosis. The sinusitis itself begins when the sinus cavity lining becomes swollen, usually because of a cold or allergy. When bacteria enter the sinus cavities and attack the swollen lining, greater inflammation occurs which causes the cilia, which usually flushes out mucus and bacteria that pollute the sinus cavities, to not function properly and therefore the bacteria and mucus become trapped which then causes the sinusitis infection.

There are many different kinds of symptoms that may be experienced with a sinusitis infection. Some of the most common symptoms which may appear as cold like symptoms are cough, congestion, postnasal drip, green nasal discharge, and ****** pain and pressure. A person may also experience a headache or even tooth pain due to the pressure of the inflammation pushing on the nerves in face. When the sinusitis infection lasts for twelve or more weeks it is then considered chronic sinusitis. With chronic sinusitis a person may also experience loss of sense of taste and smell and they also may become fatigued.

There are numerous treatments which are used for a sinusitis infection. One common treatment which is used is over the counter or prescribed nasal sprays. Nasal sprays work by distributing saline solution or medication up into the sinuses. The nasal sprays however have a large particle size that cannot make it past the inflammation at the opening of the sinus cavities and up to where the infection lies. The nasal sprays may only offer relief to the lower part of the sinuses. Oral antibiotics are also a commonly prescribed medication by physicians. Oral antibiotics work on many types of infections by flowing through the blood stream to the area of infection. The sinus cavities only contain a small amount of blood vessels therefore it is difficult for an efficient amount of antibiotic to arrive at the sinusitis infection. Oral antibiotics also can cause problems throughout the rest of the body, such as abdominal pain. Another newer form of treatment is aerosolized medications. Aerosolized medications work great because they are directly distributed into the sinus cavities so that they can cure the problem where it started.

Home remedies are also frequently used. Some people may breathe in hot steam. The steam is meant to help moisturize the sinuses and help thin the mucus. Though the steam may offer temporary relief and help some symptoms, in there is in fact an infection, only antibiotics may help cure it. Irrigation is also another common home remedy. Irrigation is used by inserting saline solution in to the sinus cavities to also help moisten them. Just like steam, this may only offer temporary relief and medication will need to be used.

Another option in treating a sinusitis infection when all other treatments have failed is sinus surgery. Sinus surgery is painful, can leave scar tissue which can lead to future problems, and usually only offers temporary relief since only a portion of the inflammation and infection is removed and so the sinusitis infection often returns.

Just like in any medical condition, different treatments work for different people. In sinusitis it all depends on what stage the sinusitis is in along with other factors. What is important is finding the treatment form that works best for you and treating the sinusitis before it gets to a chronic stage that may create more problems and involve more extreme treatment options.

By: Carla San Gaspar

About the Author:

More sinusitis infection treatment information like Aerosolized Sinusitis Therapy [http://www.sinusdynamics.com/Aerosolized-Sinusitis-Therapy.html] can be found at Sinus Infection Problem Sinus Dynamic

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Technorati Tags: Facial Pain, Oral Antibiotics, Sinuses

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a common hereditary disease (genetic based disease) that affects the mucus producing tissues of the body. Many systems of the body rely on fully functioning mucus glands and when they do not work well, many medical complications can arise.

Cystic fibrosis symptoms are caused by heavy, thick, mucus. They include frequent coughing that brings up thick discolored mucus and frequent bouts of chest congestion that often leads to pneumonia. The skin may taste salty and sufferers are easily dehydrated.

The stools of a CF patient are thick, greasy, and smell foul. The patient may be eating well and have a good appetite, but fails to gain weight and thrive. Stomach pain, bloating and excessive gas is caused by too much gas in the intestines and is painful.

There are other medical problems caused by cystic fibrosis. Infertility in men is often caused by this disease. Sinusitis is caused when the space behind the eyes, nose, and forehead are being blocked by thick mucus. Nasal tissues under these condition become infected and cause sinusitis when the lining of the sinuses becomes blocked. This is very common in patients with CF. Nasal polyps may also develop in the sinuses and require surgery to remove.

Cystic fibrosis affects the lungs and bronchial tubes. The bronchial tubes are the large airways in your lungs. Bronchiectasis is a lung disease that causes these airways to become stretched and flabby. They produce pockets where mucus collects. These pockets are a breeding ground for bacteria and infection causes more damage to the bronchial tubes. This can lead to further bronchial infections and serious illness including respiratory failure.

If your lungs are not moving enough oxygen through the body, “clubbing” can be a result. Clubbing is the widening and thickening of the toes and fingers. Clubbing is a definitive sign of CF, if the condition has not already been diagnosed.

Other serious illnesses and complications include liver disease, diabetes, gallstones, collapsed lungs, and rectal prolapse. Extensive coughing and the body having problems passing stools cause rectal prolapse. This pushes the rectal tissue outside of the body.

Another serious illness that may occur because of this genetic disease is low bone density. The body does not get enough Vitamin D and this can cause rickets. Your doctor may recommend Vitamin D supplements to prevent low bone density.

Since there is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis, medical treatment is focused on treating the various symptoms and medical problems that spring up from having CF.

By: Scott Harker

About the Author:

Scott Harker is the publisher of several health related websites… To find out more about Cystic Fibrosis, please visit Cystic Fibrosis Articles For reviews of some of the best books about cystic fibrosis, please visit Cystic Fibrosis Books

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Technorati Tags: Frequent Bouts, Gas In The Intestines, Good Appetite

5 Year Old Just Diagnosed With Cystic Fibrosis?

Lala asked:

We found out my 5 years old niece has Cystic Fibrosis. She has really bad coughing and her poo is always a yellow color. I read that the average age CF people live is 37 years old. How will her disease affect her life?

Technorati Tags: 37 Years, Cf, Cystic Fibrosis

freesurfmagazine asked:

California-based Mauli Ola has Foundation has been giving Cystic Fibrosis sufferers a unique chance to utilize the ocean’s healing powers through surf experience days pairing pro surf ambassadors with affected.

Technorati Tags: Cystic Fibrosis, Healing Powers, Surf Experience

Sports – Human Studies

During periods of stress, hypermetabolism may result in the excessive catabolism of protein and lean body mass. An example of such a condition is severe thermal injury, whereby the protein requirements may be much greater than normal. Because whey proteins contain high concentrations of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), a comparison was made between different levels of dietary whey versus different levels of BCAAs on the recovery from severe burns in guinea pig Guinea pigs were divided into six groups.

Each group received either 10%, 20%, or 30% of their calories from whey or BCAAs. Although rates of protein synthesis were not measured in this study, the cumulative effects of nitrogen balance and mortality were significantly better in the whey protein groups than the BCAA groups. This provides evidence that WPC may prove superior to BCAAs in recovery from thermal stress because it provides other EAAs in addition to the BCAAs. The availability of other amino acids may allow whey to stimulate protein synthesis in which BCAAs may be limited due to rate-limiting amino acids.

Human Studies

Research on protein synthesis in humans incorporates the use of infused radiolabeled tracers under near-steady-state conditions by the additional infusion of nasogastric or nasojejunal feedings This practical application of this approach has been questioned because feeding is not constant in normal humans and the steady state may over

Technorati Tags: Catabolism, Guinea Pig, Hypermetabolism

65 Roses or Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (also known as CF, mucovoidosis, or mucoviscidosis) is a hereditary terminal disease of the lungs and pancreas marked by severe coughing and malnutrition. It affects the exocrine (mucus) glands of the lungs, liver, pancreas, and intestines, causing progressive disability due to multisystem failure.

Thick mucus production results in frequent lung infections. Diminished secretion of pancreatic enzymes is the main cause of poor growth, fatty diarrhea, and deficiency in fat-soluble vitamins.

Often, symptoms of CF appear in infancy and childhood. Meconium ileus is a typical finding in newborn babies with CF. Individuals with cystic fibrosis can be diagnosed prior to birth by genetic testing. Newborn screening tests are increasingly common and effective (although false positives may occur, and children need to be brought in for a sweat test to distinguish disease vs carrier status).

Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common life-shortening, childhood-onset inherited diseases

In the US alone, about 1 in 4,000 are born with CF. It appears to be most common among western European populations and Ashkenazi Jews. That is to say about one in twenty-two people of Mediterranean descent are carriers of one gene for CF, making it the most common genetic disease in these populations. Incidentally, Ireland has the highest rate of CF carriers in the world, about 1 in 20.

The pancreas contains the islets of Langerhans, which are responsible for making insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood glucose. Damage of the pancreas can lead to loss of the islet cells, leading to diabetes that is unique to those with the disease. Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes (CFRD), as it is known as, shares characteristics that can be found in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics and is one of the principal non-pulmonary complications of CF. Vitamin D is involved in calcium and phosphorus regulation.

Poor intake of Vitamin D in the diet causes the bone disease Osteoporosis in which weakened bones are more vulnerable to fractures. Besides, people with CF also often develop clubbing of their fingers and toes due to the effects of chronic illness and low oxygen on their tissues.

Younger children with cystic fibrosis in the United States call their disease 65 Roses because the words are easier to pronounce. This trademarked phrase has been popularized by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Sixty-Five Roses, the book is the heart-wrenching, yet beautiful account of two sister’s love for each another as one sister battles daily for her life with cystic fibrosis. It seems to be a lifetime story that leaves no emotion in a safe harbor. Her life seems to be a daily struggle, crammed with treatments, hospitalizations, false starts and faint hope, setbacks and unfulfilled dreams. She communicates well the complicated feelings that long-term illness can breed in families.

From the few pages that I have read, I can assure you is that it is told with complete honesty and with a soft conscience. Although I haven’t got down to finishing it, it appears that it surely would be one of the most moving memoirs that I may have ever read.

Readers tell me that each page is breathtaking, pulsating and leaves you wanting to never stop reading as the story is fascinating from beginning to end.

I can quite understand the support and love in a family towards the person inflicted with cystic fibrosis and highlights the complicated feelings that long-term illness can breed in families. Like in any battle they live and fight it together and learn to triumph over it in as many ways. Must truly be one helluva journey.

It was nominated as the Globe and Mail Best 100 Books of 2006

Read this book: your life will never be the same claims the Storycircle Book Review.

Now that I have it, I must get down to finishing it one of these days.

Since 1965, the term “65 Roses” has been used by children of all ages to describe their disease. But, making it easier to say does not make CF any easier to live with. The “65 Roses” story has captured the hearts and emotions of all who have heard it. The rose, appropriately the ancient symbol of love, has become a symbol of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

By: Shankar Pandiath

About the Author:

Shankar Pandiath is a blogger and an online affiliate marketer. Feel free to reprint this article online, as long as you do not make any changes in its content. For more details on this article, click here.

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Technorati Tags: 65 Roses, Cystic Fibrosis, Disease Osteoporosis

HELP WITH bIOLOGY HELP?

Faraasa asked:

A rare recessive allele inherited in a Mendelian manner, causes the disease Cystic Fibrosis. Suppose a man who is phenotypically normal, and whose mother was normal but his father had cystic fibrosis, marries a woman who is also phenotypically normal. The parents of the woman are both normal. They are concerned that their children may inherit this disorder and decide to come to you, their genetic counselor. You sit down to explain to them that there may be cause for concern depending on their actual genotypes. Using one or more Punnett squares show ALL possible scenarios to this couple based on what you know about each of them and their parents.

Technorati Tags: Cystic Fibrosis, Punnett Squares, Recessive

Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Fundraiser?

Samantha asked:

This is my second year taking part in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s charity walk-a-thon, Great Strides, but it is my first time as being team leader.
The overall goal of the Great Strides walk is to raise a generous amount of money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to help fund research to find a cure for cystic fibrosis, and to fund care for those who already have the disease and cannot afford treatment.
What my question is, does anyone have any good ways of fundraising? I mean, I am sort of on a plateau with the donations coming in. Some family members have donated small amounts, and so have friends. I was wondering if you could provide for me some effective fundraising ideas, that do not cost too much in the first place to accomplish..
Incase you want more infomation on the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation go to:

http://www.cff.org

Incase you want more information on the Great Strides Charity Walk-A-Thon go to:

http://www.cff.org/great_strides

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

Technorati Tags: Amount Of Money, Fundraising Ideas, Thanks In Advance

natashah asked:

As mentioned in class, cystic fibrosis is an inherited genetic disorder which can easily be
detected by sequencing a person’s DNA coding for the CFTR protein. The DNA sequencing itself
is very accurate. Suppose it is 99.5% accurate. However, the missing amino acid is not the only
sequence that can cause the protein to malfunction. Suppose it accounts for about 80% of the cases of cystic fibrosis, while different sequences account for the remaining cases of cystic fibrosis. This was not known until more recently, as research into the disease developed. If we developed a test for cystic fibrosis, and we scored the test as positive only when the sequence matched that of people who were missing that amino acid (i.e. 80% of the time), then:

a. What is the sensitivity of the test? (80% or 99.5%)
b. What is the specificity of the test? (80% or 99.5%)
c. If cystic fibrosis affects 1 in 2000 Caucasians, and a Caucasian was tested at random for
the disease, what would be the positive predictive value? Explain to a patient what this
means in words someone who hadn’t had statistics could understand. (One sentence.)

d. What would be the negative predictive value? Explain to a patient what this means in words someone who hadn’t had statistics could understand. (One sentence.)
e. Without changing the sensitivity or specificity of this test, suggest a way could we improve its
positive predict value. Be specific to the disease of cystic fibrosis.

Please help with this question! I have no idea how to approach any of the parts!

Thanks a lot!

Technorati Tags: Cystic Fibrosis, Predicted Value, What This Means

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