Brain Disease presents new insights and concepts gained through recent research in brain disease. Leading world scientists review the latest experimental and clinical findings on which the central nervous system (CNS) responds to injury. The text focuses on the culmination of research carried out during Decade of the Brain (1990-2000). Chapter topics encompass the mechanisms of CNS disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and traumatic brain injury. Attention is focused on the role of genetic and environmental factors, pathophysiology of immune-mediated brain injury, blood-brain barrier eruption and brain edema, apoptotic mechanisms, cytokines, chemokines and the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Other topics include repair mechanisms, gene therapy and the use of stem cells for CNS remyelination, regeneration, neurogenesis and compensatory plasticity.

Millions suffer from cancer but only the plight of celebrity cancer patients are splashed on the headlines. Below I describe two famous cancer victims and how they influenced actively or inadvertently the public’s view of cancer.

Kylie Minogue
The Australian pop star Kylie Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Melbourne showed a surge in the demand for breast cancer imaging even for low-risk women 6 months after Minogue’s diagnosis. Here are some of the effects of Minogue’s well-publicized condition:

• Breast imaging in 25 to 34 year old women rose by 33 per cent;
• Breast biopsies in women 25 to 34 increased by 46 per cent;
• Breast imaging in women aged 35 to 44 rose by 25 per cent;
• Biopsies in women aged 35 to 44 increased by 37 per cent.

Good or bad? Further data analyses indicate that among those who tested positive, there were a lot of “false negatives.”

According to study author Dr Margaret Kelaher

“Raising women’s awareness of the need to get screened is a generally good thing. But these findings suggest that thousands of additional imaging procedures and biopsies did not improve breast cancer detection among young women…It appears there has been a situation where publicity has led to many low risk women using – and probably overusing – screening services.”

Jade Goody
Jade Goody died of cervical cancer earlier this year. Her battle with cancer, turned into a reality show, captured the world’s attention and got women scrambling for cervical cancer screening and the HPV vaccine. The heightened interest and awareness in cervical cancer was dubbed the “Jade Goody effect”. Here are some of the changes that the Jade Goody effect brought about:

• Reexamination of UK’s National Health Services (NHS) cervical screening program which is offered starting at age 25 in England but as early as age 20 in some parts of Britain.
• Increased interest in and demand for the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, also known as “cervical cancer jab.”

According to The Guardian UK

Sad though the cause, the new interest in cervical cancer has been welcomed by cancer charities and those involved in the screening programme. The proportion of women taking up the invitation to go for a screening test has been steadily dropping for about a decade. The latest figures, from March last year, show 78.6% of eligible women had been tested, which meant that the take-up had dropped below 80% for the third year in a row.

So what do you think? Is cancer publicity through celebrity victims making people panic over nothing? Or does it increase awareness and save lives?

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons/Flickr

Stroke is something that we normally do not associate with children, much less infants. Unfortunately, children do suffer from strokes that might go unnoticed or undiagnosed.

Previous estimates of incidence of stroke among American children (0.54 to 1.2 cases per 100,000) were underestimations. A new study reports that the frequency is actually two to four more than previously reported. Researchers at the University of California at San Francisco calculated from re-examination of hospital records and imaging data the actual incidence in the US to be 2.4 cases per 100,000. Another report from UK researchers give estimates that range from .3 per 100,000 to 13.0 per 100,000.

So why the underestimation?

Because health professionals still cannot easily accept the fact that stroke does occur in children.

In fact, everybody can suffer from stroke regardless of age. This ABC report describes a case of a baby who had stroke while still in the uterus. This event affected the boy’s motoric development. A neurologist performed a brain scan when the boy was 19 months old and arrived at a diagnosis: cerebral palsy due to a stroke in utero.

Aside from problems with diagnosis, health professionals also have to deal with the fact that most stroke treatments are only meant for adults.

In another case, a 15-year old presented with stroke symptoms. The hospital staff took the risk and treated with the clot buster drug tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). He recovered. But can tPA be used in younger kids, even infants? Nobody knows.

So what happens to kids who suffer from stroke? They suffer from the following:

• Neuromuscular disorders such as cerebral palsy
• Developmental disorders, including motoric and speech problems.
• Seizures
• Subsequent strokes

Childhood stroke is a neglected health problem even though research indicates that it is among the top ten causes of children mortality. Like in many disorders, the earlier a stroke is a diagnosed in children, the better are their chances to recover fully and live normal lives. The recent study American hopes to increase awareness and vigilance about stroke among children.

Photo credit: stick.xchng

The Endurance B3U upright exercise bike features a friendly console with easy to read display helps motivate any user. When does fitness meet comfort?…As soon as you first slide into the seat of the Endurance B3U. Built with all the features and quality of health club bikes, the Endurance B3U will transform your home into a state of the art workout center. DuraFirm padding will keep you comfortable and working out longer. Built on a stable foundation, this Endurance B3U upright exercise bike is loaded with features for any active home user needs. The Endurance B3U upright exercise bike delivers ultimate results for every user. So easy to use that a novice can experience immediate success. Self generated power, magnetic resistance and heart rate control are just a few of the advanced features of the Endurance B3U upright exercise bike. Challenging and creative programming will expedite your fitness goals. Try to find better bikes or a more efficient workout, and you’ll end up at the gym. The Endurance B3U upright exercise cycle is built to challenge you to a lifetime of cardio fitness and keep your finger on the pulse of peak physical conditioning. Features: Programs: Interval, Random, Heart Rate Control, Fat burn, Weight Loss, Rolling, Cardiovascular Feedback: Heart Rate, Distance, Speed, Time, Calories, Resistance Level, Watts and METS Auto Start: Yes Workout Feedback Display: 8 LED Segments (4 x 2) Workout Profile le Display: 8 x 30 Profile le Matrix LED Heart Rate Technology: Contact Heart Rate Control On-The-Fly Programming: Yes Accessory Holder: CD & Water Bottle Resistance Levels: 16 Resistance System: Magnetic Drive System: Super Silent Poly-V Belt Driven Flywheel: 24 lbs. Precision Balanced Frame: Heavy-Gauge welded steel with textured powder coat finish Handle Bars: T-Bar Style at console and Side Support with Contact Heart Rate Seat: DuraFirm upholstery Pedals: Self-balancing with straps

I remember when about a year ago when our paediatrician referred us to an eye specialist to check my twin boys’ eyesight. I was praying silently “Please no eyeglasses…”

I mean, the likelihood that they would need glasses at an early age is quite high – it runs in my family. They were such active, sporty 5-year olds then; they are even more so now and are into soccer, gymnastics, inline skating, etc. I can’t imagine how they would manage to do all those active sports activities with glasses on. I remember how my brothers weren’t allowed to play basketball with their glasses on. That was so frustrating. Luckily, the eye doctor gave my kids a clean bill of health.

Some kids are not so lucky. There are many children out there with eyesight problems. The most common eye condition among children is nearsightedness (also known as shortsightedness or myopia).

Nearsightedness occurs when the physical length of the eye is greater than the optical length. For this reason, it often develops in the rapidly growing school-aged child or teenager, and progresses during the growth years, requiring frequent changes in glasses or contact lenses. It usually stops progressing as a person finishes growing in his or her early twenties.

A nearsighted person can see objects which are near very quickly whereas objects in the distance appear blurred.

Nearsightedness can be corrected by eyeglasses or contact lenses. The standard practice, however, is to take off the glasses or the lenses before going to sleep at night. A new type of contact lenses for children, however, requires that the children do wear them at night. This type of lenses is available for adults but only just now for children. So how do these lenses work?

It works  “by gently pressing on the cornea, reducing its curvature and thereby refocusing the light directly on to the retina. It also, in effect, shortens the eyeball. “

In the adult version, the effect of the lenses on reshaping the eyeball is temporary. The eye will eventually spring back to its original shape so that it is necessary to wear the lenses every night.

In the case of children, however, the lenses seem to have corrective effect that is long-lasting. The lenses slowed down the deterioration of the yes. In a clinical trial that involved more than 300 children, those who wore overnight lenses for a year did not have prescription change. Those who did not wear the lenses had increase in prescription indicating deterioration.

So why do the lenses work better for kids than for adults? Well, children’s eyes are still growing and are therefore more “malleable” than adult adults. The lenses work like a dental brace by restoring the eye to its original shape.

Photo credit: stock.xchng

Doing sports is a healthy pastime. For children and adolescents, sports can be the cure for obesity and social problems.

Lacrosse is become a very popular sports In American schools. There are some concerns, whoever that the sports can be dangerous. A friend of mine didn’t allow her 14-year old son to play lacrosse because of these concerns.

In 2004, George Boiardi of Cornell University got hit with a lacrosse ball in the chest, causing his heart to stop. His was not an isolated case.

A recent report analysed the statistics of this popular game, as summarized below:

• Since 1980, 23 lacrosse players in the US suffered from sports-related accident that led to cardiac arrest.
• 19 of those players died; only 4 survived.

It is easily imaginable for athletes who play American football or rugby to sustain fatal injuries during a game. But lacrosse? How could a lacrosse ball kill a person? It is probably due to commotio cordis, “a condition in which an impact of blunt force arriving within a specific range of 15 thousandths of a second in the heart’s beating cycle sends an electrical impulse to the heart, stopping it.” Commotio cordis is a Latin terms which means “commotion of the heart”. A lacrosse ball hitting the chest at a precise moment can cause ventricular fibrillation,

a condition in which the heart’s electrical activity becomes disordered. The heart’s lower (pumping) chambers contract in a rapid, unsynchronized way and little or no blood is pumped from the heart. Collapse and sudden death follows unless medical help is provided immediately.

However, experts say it is a very rare event, a one-in-a-million shot. We shouldn’t let such rare occurrence discourage us and our kids from doing sports.

And because doctors, PE teachers and coaches are more aware of the risks, more preventive measures are in place, such:

• Protective chest gears
• Automated external defibrillators (AEDs)

The presence of AEDs during sports events has saved many lives. According to the report, two lacrosse players suffered from commotion cordis in 2008 and survived.

According to Dr. Jeff Mandak, a cardiologist in Harrisburg, Pa., and a member of U.S. Lacrosse’s safety board

“When there were two episodes of commotio cordis on the field a year, a year and a half ago … because these coaches recognized that this was a potential devastating injury … they called for a defibrillator and both kids survived”.

Photo credit: wikicommons

The highly durable, commercial grade Trixter X-Bike 800 Exercise Bike is designed for use in group cycling programs, on the general CV floor and for personal training in the club and in quality home gyms as well as for home use. Comes complete with the revolutionary X-Bars to bring the natural movements of outdoor cycling indoors and for total-body fitness. The Trixter X 800 Exercise Bike is the complete body workout that emulates the natural action of real cycling. The upper and lower body action ensures a true to life body sway which is exactly like riding in the great outdoors. Plus it burns more calories, making it more worthwhile for you as well! This commercial indoor bike is ideal for all environments, including health clubs, hotels, offices and even the home, and performs superbly well in each. Incredibly stylish and functional, the Trixter X bike (manufactured by cycling legends GIANT – the Worlds largest manufacturer of bikes) is a revolution to the traditional class and exercise, and is sure to provide extra motivation and performance for the user, resulting in improved results! Features: Highly durable commercial grade indoor cycle designed for use in group cycling programs, on the general CV floor and for personal training in the club and in quality home gyms. High strength steel frame fitted with 18kg (40lb) flywheel, heavy duty steel cranks and two-way SPD/toe clip pedal system Micro adjustable rider compartment for precision fit, ‘Velo Plush’ saddle for unbeatable rider comfort and single sided SPD combo pedals with strapped toe clips 7 Levels of upper body resistance & 32 levels of pedalling resistance. Specs: Warranty: 3 years on the frame and 1 year on parts. Max user weight: 300lb Flywheel weight: 40lb Overall weight: 113lb Length: 41″ Width: 25″ Height: 38″

Many people move to the United States to find a better life. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always work out especially when it comes to health. Take for example the Hispanics. According to this study by researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine , Hispanics who migrated to the US have a 40% increase of likelihood to develop certain types of cancer. The study looked at more than 300,000 cancer patients included in the Florida Cancer Data system from 1999 to 2001. Data analysis showed that Hispanics in the state have a higher risk to develop cancer compared to those who stayed at home .However, the increase was not homogenously observed among all Hispanics. The highest cancer rates were observed among the Puerto Ricans, followed by the Cubans, while the Mexicans have the least increase.

The researchers hypothesize that a major reason for the increase in cancer rates is the exposure and adoption of the immigrants to less healthy lifestyles with include:

• Unhealthy diet (e.g. increase consumption of fatty and junk food)
• Increased alcohol consumption
• Increased cigarette smoking

However, the role that better diagnostic services in the US play in this cannot be ruled out.

The lifestyle change hypothesis explains why some Hispanics are more vulnerable than others. The Puerto Ricans were among those who have lived the longest in the US whereas the Mexicans were virtually newcomers.

According to study leader Dr. Paulo Pinheiro

“Mexicans in Florida are very recent arrivals. They have had less exposure to the U.S. environment.”

The Cubans in the US have the most dramatic risk increase compared to those who stayed home. In particular, this group of Hispanics is susceptible to colorectal, endometrial and prostate cancers which might be partly influenced by diet.

The Puerto Ricans are more likely to develop alcohol-related cancers such as cancer of the liver.

Male Hispanics have increased incidence of cigarette-related cancers especially lung cancer whereas female Hispanics have increased incidence of cervical cancer compared to those who did move to the US.

Despite the observed increased rates, Hispanics still fare relatively better compared to non-immigrant Americans in terms of cancer rates.

The Hispanics are not the only immigrants whose health is affected by lifestyle change in the new country. Breast cancer incidence is very low among Asian women but increases in incidence among those who moved to the US.

GLOBAL EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES

• November is
  Diabetes Month
  http://www.iknowdiabetes.org/learn.html
• 2 to 4 November 2009
  Consultation on antiretroviral therapy for HIV prevention
• 14 November 2009
  World Diabetes Day
• 16 November 2009
  World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
• 19 to 20 November 2009
  First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety
• 19 November 2009
  World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day
• 25 November 2009
  International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

US EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES

• November is
  American Diabetes Month
  American Diabetes Association
  

  ” title=”http://www.uscopdcoalition.org/NewsAndEvents.htm 

” target=”_blank”>www.uscopdcoalition.org/NewsAndEvents.htm 

• November is
  Diabetic Eye Disease Month
  American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives
  

  ” title=”http://www.lungcanceralliance.org/involved/lcam_month.html 

” target=”_blank”>www.lungcanceralliance.org/involved/lcam_month.html 

• November is
  National Adoption Month
  Child Welfare Information Gateway
  Children’s Bureau/ACYF
  www.alz.org 
• November is
  National Family Caregivers Month
  National Family Caregivers Association
  www.aad.org 
• November is
  National Hospice Palliative Care Month
  National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
  www.nhpco.org 
• November is
  Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
  Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
  

  ” title=”http://www.phassociation.org/awareness/Awareness_Month/index2009.asp 

” target=”_blank”>www.phassociation.org/awareness/Awareness_Month/index2009.asp 

• 6 to 8 November 2009
  Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Movement Weekend
  Gynecologic Cancer Foundation (GCF)
  Half marathon/5K race. http://www.thegcf.org/
• 18 November
  Prematurity Awareness Day
  March of Dimes Foundation
  www.marchofdimes.com 
• 18 November
  World COPD Day
  [COPD= Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease]
  Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease
  

  ” title=”http://acsf2f.com/gaso/ 

” target=”_blank”>acsf2f.com/gaso/ 

• 21 November
  National Survivors of Suicide Day
  American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
  www.afsp.org
• 22 to 28 November
  Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Awareness Week
  International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
  www.aboutgerd.org 

Quiet your mind and relax your entire body with a luxurious eye pillow. Our eye pillows are made from 100% pure silk and come in a variety of colors. Each pillow has a removable cover that can be easily washed to increase the life of your pillow. The eye pillows are lightly scented with lavender to relax your eyes and soothe away tension.