Archive for May, 2010

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Innovative Solutions for Enhancing the Effects of Leukemia Treatments

Comments: 0May 5th, 2010 by admin



The treatment of leukemia involves various cancer therapies and long-term courses of specific medications. There are many forms of treatment for leukemia and most of them have pronounced side-effects. Although the medical treatments available today are effective in achieving complete remission, they also trigger serious undesirable effects among patients with leukemia. Considering this fact, medical scientists nowadays focus on improving the efficiency of cancer medications with minimal side-effects.

The improved version of the leukemia drug ATRA (all-trans retinoic acid) is considered to be a safer and a more reliable alternative to prolonged chemotherapy and traditional cancer medications. The enhanced version of the drug ATRA is Lipo-ATRA, a more advanced and effective cancer medication. Unlike the old version of the drug, the active agent of Lipo-ATRA is covered with a layer a fat. Its inventors claim that Lipo-ATRA remains inside the human body for longer periods of time, thus having increased efficiency in fighting leukemia cells. In addition, Lipo-ATRA can be administered intravenously, allowing the drug to act a lot quicker in fighting the disease. Thanks to its long-term action, Lipo-ATRA can also minimize the risks of relapse.

During the trial period, Lipo-ATRA has proved to be very effective in overcoming acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Patients with AML that have been administered the enhanced version of ATRA have experienced a complete remission and they have remained asymptomatic for long periods of time. The majority of patients with AML have even exceeded the critical five-year period of remission, thus being completely cured.

Medical scientists are very satisfied with the potential and the safety of the new drug. They sustain that Lipo-ATRA is a reliable replacement for traditional chemotherapy. Medical scientists explain that more than a third of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia who receive Lipo-ATRA can be spared of prolonged chemotherapy. Considering the fact that the new drug acts very well on its own, patients often don’t require other adjutant cancer therapies or treatments.

In the trial period, the new drug Lipo-ATRA was tested on 34 patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). In the initial stages of treatment, Lipo-ATRA was administered along with idarubicin, a strong cancer medication. When patients began to achieve remission, Lipo-ATRA was administered without idarubicin. The effects of Lipo-ATRA were remarkable, as 10 patients among the 34 that participated to the study remained in remission for more than 5 years even after they stopped receiving adjutant chemotherapy drugs.

Thanks to its efficiency in curing leukemia and thanks to its fewer side-effects, Lipo-ATRA is considered to be the best option in overcoming the disease in present. An appropriate substitute for traditional chemotherapy, Lipo-ATRA may soon revolutionize the treatment of leukemia.

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Posted in leukimia

IMHA in Cats

Comments: 0May 5th, 2010 by admin

IMHA in cats affects young and middle aged cats more frequently than older cats and it is perhaps one of the deadliest conditions your pet can develop. The official term for this disease is Immune mediated hemolytic anemia, and it causes exactly what the name implies, anemia. However in this disease, it is literally caused by your cats own system attacking itself.

This disease is extremely rapid in development, and if not treated as soon as possible, it is fatal.
IMHA is very difficult to understand, and because of this difficulty, there are no known preventive measures. Some cats do respond to treatments, but in most cases, the outcome of this disease will most likely take your cats life.

Cat’s immune systems are an extremely powerful and intricate set of mechanisms, and if it is healthy and not compromised by lack of proper nutrients, it is able to overcome almost any type of an attack by bacterium, viral, or fungi infections. This system is made of thousands of cells as well as products that secret from these cells. In a healthy cat with a fully powered immune system, these cells recognize any invasion and rapidly destroy them.

It is also very easily identifies that the cells and the products produced by your cat are not invading and totally ignores them as any type of a threat. However, with IMHA, something goes terribly wrong with this system and the worst possible scenario happens to your cat; its own system starts to attack itself.

When this attack occurs, your cat has absolutely no defense against it and the system starts to destroy the vitally important red blood cells in your cat. When your cat develops this disease, it is usually accidental; but there is also an attack that is on purpose, called an autoimmune process. This is an attack by your cats system against anything it thinks that may be foreign intruders.

In this form of attack, any type of cell in your cat’s body is assaulted, but in most cases the attack is against the red blood cells, and IHMA is the result.

Anemia is a deficiency of red blood cells and can occur from excessive bleeding, your cats failure to produce enough red blood cells, or some type of destruction of the red blood cells. The term immune mediated implies that this destruction is being carried out by your pets own system.

The actual development of IMHA in cats is extremely complicated and as such, it is very difficult for the medical professional to fully understand. There are a few occasions when the actual cause may be determined and treated, but in the majority of cases the exact cause is never found simply because it is so rapid and so destructive that most cats will not survive it.

With severe cases of any type of anemia, your cat’s tissues do not receive the required oxygen that they need as the heme, which is a critical part of hemoglobin and helps to carry the oxygen, is destroyed. What makes this disease so very dangerous to your cat is that the destruction of the red blood cells is so sudden and so severe, that the reserve kept in your cats bone marrow as well as they production of new cells, simply can not keep up with this destruction.

If this destruction can not be identified and stopped, your cat will die. There are several drugs that can stop the destruction, but that is what makes this disease so very difficult to treat, in that there are often other complications.

Different forms of IMHA:

There are four different forms of IMHA that can attack your cat: Primary, secondary, intravascular, and extravacular.

The primary form has no known cause and is the result of your cats own antibodies attacking the red blood cell membranes. This form is rare in cats, but common in dogs. Secondary is the result of the same antibodies attacking your cat, but it is caused by a weakened immune system caused by an underlying disease.

The most common underlying disease is cancer, feline leukemia virus, red blood cell parasites, or reaction to a recently administered drug. The Intravascular form means that your cat’s cells are being destroyed within the blood vessels, and extravacular form implies that they are being destroyed out side of the vessels.

Symptoms:

Your cat will show some very distinctive symptoms that they have developed IMHA and the quicker they can be reacted to the better chance they have of surviving. The first symptom will be a very sudden yellow tint in your cat’s gums or their eyes, followed very quickly by dark urine that has very little yellow in it at all. Your cat may also develop a very rapid breathing, and if this occurs, your cat is in distress.

Treatments:

The first objective of treatment of IHMA in cats will be to stop the attack on the red blood cells and than supporting your cats overall health, if possible. The drugs that can stop this life threatening condition, corticosteroids, have some drawbacks. They can usually stop the attack on the red blood cells, but they can also interfere with your cats system in dealing with germs.

This makes it very difficult to treat as your veterinarian does not really know if it is too much or too little to be effective and still prevent further damage.

There are several other drugs that may be used if corticosteroids do not work, but your veterinarian will have to be very careful with advanced immune suppressants as there has been very little research on how effective they actually are and how serious the side affects may be.

IMHA in cats can be stopped in some cases, while in others your cat may have to be on medications for the rest of their lives. But in the majority of cases they may never get the chance as this disease is that deadly.

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Posted in anemia

What Cervical Cancer Entails

Comments: 0May 5th, 2010 by admin



Cervical cancer, also known as invasive endometrial adenocarcinoma, is one of a woman’s worst nightmares. It is a Cancer that forms in tissues of the cervix (organ connecting the uterus and vagina). It is usually a slow-growing disease that may not have symptoms but can be found with regular Pap tests (a procedure in which cells are scraped from the cervix and looked at under a microscope). The mere thought of it sends shivers down the spine all the way to the smallest toe!

The first stage of this disease may not be exhibiting or causing any symptoms. Moderate pain during intercourse and vaginal may be slightly experienced in this stage. In advanced cervical cancer one may one may go through appetite loss, weight loss, fatigue, pelvic pain, legs and back aches, swelling of legs, heavy vaginal bleeding and leaking of urine or feces from the vaginal.

These cancer work its approach through a different phase, or exist in areas that are measured in stages: in phase I, the cancer raids the cervix under the top stratum of cells. In phase II, it extends past the cervix into close by tissues, to the upper part of the vagina, to the pelvic wall. In phase III, the extending continues to the lower part of the vagina, and may be spreading into the pelvic wall and nearby lymph nodes. And in phase IV, the cancer has extended to the least secluded or secures parts of the body such as the bladder, liver, rectum, lungs and additional organs of the body.

There are a variety of treatments for the cervical cancer; there is surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, vaccine therapy. Cancer can be detected by screening, testing, tumor markers and biopsy procedures. With new technologies as this the rate of deaths has drastically decreased.

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Posted in cancer

Drug Rehabilitation Services – A Boon For Teenagers to Be Sober

Comments: 0May 5th, 2010 by admin



Drugs are fast spreading its reach and now drug abuse has become common among teens too. More and more teens are getting involved in drug abuse at a very tender age. Teens get easily influenced by their friends who are drug addicts and start using drugs without even considering its fatal consequences. Family members are usually unaware of the habits of their kids. They are vulnerable to the negative influences and very easily fall prey of the addiction of drugs by following the so called trend. In the race of looking cool among the peers, they go to any extent that includes trying drugs too. With the easy availability of drugs, it becomes difficult to prevent young minds to prevent teenage addiction.

The teens as well as their parents realize the disastrous nature of the drugs when they become drug addicts. Taking heavy doses at a regular interval can create a lot of trouble and thus, spoil the future life of a child. Among the most popular drugs are marijuana and alcohol that can actually ruin the future of any teenager. They regret their bad decisions and mistakes and start trying to get rid of this drug addiction. They know of the devastating effect their addiction is bringing on them and their loved ones.

Once, realizing the mistake, there must be strong determination to quit. There are many drug rehabilitation centers which help the teens to get out of this fatal abuse and will provide addiction treatment. The drug addiction facilities for all kinds of addiction for the teens are provided by these centers. There are also caring individuals that want to guide through the recovery path. The struggling teenagers who long to come of the fatal trap of addiction can avail the supportive and positive environment of the rehabs. The drug addiction treatment for teens includes drug free programs, psychological treatment and methadone maintenance.

These addiction services can be regarded as a boon for the teenagers who are addict of drug. They lead the teenagers to the ultimate path of being clear and sober of drugs. The drug addict learns how to tap into his self control and resist the temptations he might find in the regular world. These rehab centers also have one on one counselor that help to adjust and to control the urge and talk about any inner demons they might be facing on their path. They give various therapies which includes psychotherapy, counseling, family therapy and support groups. Prescribed medications also provide assistance in suppressing withdrawal symptoms, particularly drug craving. These help the drug addict to develop techniques to help them deal with the situations and finally make them free of drugs. At this crucial time choosing a recognized and experienced drug addiction rehab is essential to come out of these drug addictions in a professional approach.

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Posted in Alcohol

Atlanta Falcons Look to Build on 2008 Success

Comments: 0May 5th, 2010 by admin



The last 3 years for the Atlanta Falcons have been a roller coaster ride like no other in the NFL. After having the most exciting player in the game, Michael Vick, for so many years, the Falcons are looking to move forward with QB sensation Matt Ryan. Matt Ryan had one of the best rookie QB seasons ever in 08′, completing 61% of his pass attempts, over 3,400 yards passing, 21 touchdown passes, only 12 interceptions, with a QB rating of almost 90 and starting all 16 games – many veteran QB’s will take that season any day.

The Atlanta Falcons were the “darlings” of the NFL in 08′ with a record of 11-5, surprising most in their success a year after compiling a record of 4-12 in 07′. While the Falcons lost to the Arizona Cardinals in the Wild Card playoff game, the future is bright for the Falcons and Matt Ryan.

The Falcons acquired future Hall of Famer TE Tony Gonzalez from the Kansas City Chiefs for practically nothing. With a professional like Gonzalez on the Falcons – this can only increase Matt Ryan’s confidence and help him improve overall as a quarterback in the NFL.

The Falcons are in the NFC South – which in 08′ was the most competitive division in all of football. In 09′, the division isn’t as good with the Carolina Panthers struggling and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the process of rebuilding. The team the Falcons will have to be concerned with is the New Orleans Saints and their overwhelming offense that can strike at any time.

If Matt Ryan stays healthy and protected, distributes the ball efficiently and limits turnovers – the Falcons may see post season action for the second year in a row and contend in the NFC. No one thought the Arizona Cardinals would make the Super Bowl – 09′ can be the year for the Falcons.

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Posted in flu

Health Check Ups For Dads

Comments: 0May 4th, 2010 by admin



He is busy, he is a workaholic, he is constantly on his toes and keeps a tab on each member of the family. From the start of the day, until late evenings, he hardly ever relaxes, and yet, seems to be in the pink of his health. But in the midst of all his duties and family time, somewhere down the line he tends to ignore those off and on cold and coughs, backaches, chest pains and blood pressure fluctuations, which if ignored for long, can turn into bigger problems later on in life. And then is all the work stress, worth it, if it takes a toll over his health?

Well, it’s high time our dads looked at their health alongside their business and work, and maintained a balance. Especially after the age of 50 as has been found, bodily functions start slowing down, causing myriad health problems. And as our dads won’t voluntarily go for health checkups, it is pertinent, that they be taken by us, even if it takes away an hour or two of their “precious” time at work, because at the end of the day, there can be no compromising with health.

Below is the list of the most essential tests that would judge your father’s health and physical fitness. These tests are to be taken by all those who are above the age of fifty, independent of the presence of any ailment or disease.

Important Health Checkups

* CBC – ESR Test

Complete Blood Count (CBC) test diagnosis a patient for anemia, infections or other medical conditions.

How is the test conducted: The test is conducted by taking a sample of blood from the patient’s arm by a needle. CBC test doesn’t require any test preparations. Moderate pain after drawing the blood is normal.

Erithrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) test is used to find out any condition related to inflammation in the body. It is always done with other tests, as only ESR test doesn’t help in finding out the proper cause of the problem. It helps in finding out diseases like T.B, thyroid problems, anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic fever and other inflammatory conditions.

How the test is conducted: The test is conducted by taking a sample of blood from the person’s arm by a needle. Moderate pain after drawing the blood is normal. Just like the CBC test, ESR test doesn’t require any test preparations.

* Lipid Profile Test

Lipid profile test is a group of tests that are done together with blood test and these examine the risk of heart attack, stroke and hardening of arteries. The lipid profile includes total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides. People who have low levels of high density lipoprotein, suffer from diabetes, hypertension and are at high risk of developing heart diseases.

How is the test conducted: A person needs to fast for at least for 9 to 12 hours before the test. The test is conducted by taking a sample of blood from the person’s arm by a needle. Moderate pain after drawing the blood is normal.

* Blood Sugar Test

This is done to mainly check the sugar levels in the blood. High blood sugar can give rise to problems like diabetes, nerve damage, kidney problem, cardio vascular diseases and eye problems along with the weakening of immune system. It is very important test for people suffering from diabetes, so that they keep a tab on their blood sugar level.

How is the test conducted: The person is asked to fast overnight. The test is conducted by taking a sample of blood from the person’s arm by a needle. One more blood sample is taken after lunch, to check the blood sugar level before and after fasting. If blood sugar level before fasting is less than 110mg/dl and post fasting levels is less than 130 mg/dl then it indicates that the person is a non diabetic and the blood sugar level is normal.

* Kidney Tests

Kidneys help to separate toxins, minerals and waste products from the blood. People with diabetes and high blood pressure are at a high risk of developing kidney problems. In the kidney tests, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and creatinine in blood and urine levels are checked which are responsible for proper functioning of the kidney. Your doctor might ask you to stop medication if you are taking any medicines so as to get the correct results from the test.

How is the test conducted? In the kidney test various tests are conducted, blood and urine samples are taken to find out how the kidneys are functioning. The test is conducted by taking a sample of blood from the person’s arm by a needle and for the urine test, the person is asked to give his urine sample. Kidney tests help in diagnosis of conditions like kidney failure, liver failure, dehydration etc.

* Liver Tests

In liver tests, the liver enzymes levels of Serum Glutamic-Pyruvic Transaminase, Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase, Serum bilirubin, Alkaline phosphate and Serum protein are checked which can lead to early diagnosis of various diseases.

How is the test conducted? No special preparation is needed for this test. The test is conducted by taking a sample of blood from the person’s arm by a needle to perform various tests. Liver tests help you in knowing if you are suffering from any disease of the liver.

* ECG Test

In electrocardiogram test, electrical activity of the heart beat is recorded. This test helps to

check the overall health of the heart.

How is the test conducted? A person has to remove his clothes and lie down on the bed. Various electrodes are attached to the body on various standardized locations. Some medications can affect the result of the test; hence it is necessary to inform the doctor about the medication. ECG test helps in finding out the heart rhythms, to find out if the blood flow to the heart is proper and if any damage is caused to the heart muscles etc.

* PSA Test

Prostate Specific Antigen test helps in diagnosis of the proper functioning of the prostate. It also helps in detecting the cancer of the prostate gland which tends to enlarge in old age.

How is the test conducted? The test is conducted by taking a sample of blood from the person’s arm by a needle. The test displays the levels of prostate specific antigen in one’s blood.

Besides the tests mentioned above, there are other tests that must be carried out for particular ailments the patient may be suffering from.

Also,

* Your dad needs to visit a dentist at least once every six months.

* Also, he needs to be taken to an ENT if there is something that is irritating him either in the nose or the ear or the throat.

* And a regular eye check- up is advisable.

So for once let him occupy the centre stage and give him the attention he deserves. Regular health checkups will ensure that your father remains the pillar of the family.

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Posted in anemia

Uses of the WBC Blood Test

Comments: 0May 4th, 2010 by admin



The white blood cell (WBC) blood test is often ordered by the physician to determine the density of WBCs or leukocytes in the blood of the patient. The normal value is 4,500 to 10,000 leukocytes per microliter and if the value obtained in the test is higher than 10,000, this may indicate the presence of an allergic reaction or an infection. However, in some instances this may also mean that the patient is under a lot of stress. On the other hand, if the value is less than 4,500, this may have resulted from radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Lower WBC values may also indicate the presence of an HIV infection.

There are five major kinds of WBCs and these are the eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, lymphocytes and neutrophils. A doctor may want a blood differential test, which determines the percentage of every kind of WBC that is found in the patient’s blood. Abnormally high neutrophil percentage could indicate eclampsia, acute infection, rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis, myelocytic leukemia, gout, trauma, thyroiditis or stress. An abnormally low level of neutrophils may signify influenza, chemotherapy, aplastic anemia, radiation therapy or exposure to radiation, or widespread bacterial infection.

Too many lymphocytes may mean infectious hepatitis, a chronic bacterial infection, multiple myeloma, lymphocytic leukemia, infectious mononucleosis, recovery from a bacterial infection, or a viral infection. An abnormally low level of lymphocytes may indicate exposure to radiation, leukemia, HIV infection, chemotherapy, or sepsis.

An abnormally high level of monocytes may mean viral infection, tuberculosis, parasitic infection or a chronic inflammatory disease. If there are too many eosinophils, this may indicate the presence of Hodgkin’s disease, parasitic infection, cancer or allergic reaction. A reduction in the level of basophils may be indicative of an acute allergic reaction.

Those who are taking certain kinds of drugs have to inform the physician because these could affect WBC counts. Some of the drugs that can increase WBC counts are aspirin, allopurinol, epinephrine, corticosteroids, chloroform, triamterene, quinine and heparin. Meanwhile, some of the medications that can lower WBC counts are anticonvulsants, antibiotics, diuretics, chemotherapy drugs, barbiturates, arsenicals, antithyroid drugs, antihistamines and sulfonamides.

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Posted in anemia

Sexual Transmitted Disease – Genital Herpes and Lifestyle Tips

Comments: 0May 3rd, 2010 by admin

If you have herpes, and are planning to become sexually active with someone new, you owe it to them and to yourself to be honest about your own infection. You can spread the infection even if your virus is dormant and you have no open sores. Try practicing telling with a trusted friend or in front of a mirror. And stay calm. Keep your words simple and clear, and be prepared to answer any questions.

In general, those with herpes find that with time and a better understanding of the disease, telling new partners becomes easier. They also discover that herpes doesn’t affect their intimate relationships and sex lives as much as they originally feared. Unprotected sex is no guarantee of protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Most sexually transmitted diseases can be spread via sex.

To protect yourself, make sure your partner uses a condom if you’re performing sex; if he’s performing sex on you or if you’re having sex with a woman, use a condom. You can get them in some medical supply stores. They provide a barrier during sex. The best protection against any type of sexually transmitted disease is a latex condom. However, it doesn’t provide 100 percent protection against STDs–only abstinence does. If you use a condom, make sure you use it properly. Human error causes more condom failures than manufacturing errors. Use a new condom with each sexual act. Carefully handle it so you don’t damage it with you fingernails, teeth or other sharp objects.

Use only water-based lubricants with latex condoms. Ensure adequate lubrication during intercourse. No one test screens for all STDs. Some require a vaginal exam and Pap smear; others a blood or urine test. Just because you have a negative test doesn’t mean you don’t have the disease. Chlamydia, for instance, may travel far up into your reproductive tract, so your health care professional is unable to obtain a culture. Or your body may not have developed enough antibodies to a virus like HIV or HPV to turn up in a blood test.

Still, it’s important to ask your health care professional to regularly test you for STDs if you’re sexually active in a non-monogamous relationship (or have the slightest concern about your partner’s fidelity). You can get tested at your health department, community clinic, private physician or planned parenthood. While some STDs may present with symptoms such as sores or ulcers or discharge, most, unfortunately, have no symptoms.

Women are even more likely than men to have STDs without symptoms. Women are also more likely to develop serious complications from STDs. You can’t always tell if you or a partner has a STD just by looking. Don’t rely on a partner’s self reporting and assume that will prevent you from acquiring an STD; many infected persons do not know they have a problem. They may think symptoms are caused by something else, such as yeast infections, friction from sexual relations or allergies. Educate yourself about your own body and, in turn, learn about your own individual risk for contracting an STD. One way to do this is to schedule an examination with a health care provider who can sit down with you and help you learn the principles for staying safe and sexually healthy.

Don’t allow fear, embarrassment or ignorance to jeopardize your future. Sexually transmitted diseases are particularly common among adolescents. And it’s an issue kids are concerned about. Parents can play a large role in their adolescent’s behavior, both in terms of the behavior you model yourself and in terms of the communication between you and your teen. Make sure your daughter has regular visits with a competent gynecologist and that your son sees a medical professional who specializes in adolescent health at least once a year if for nothing else than some plain talk about STDs and pregnancy. And talk to your kids. Study after study proves that when parents talk to their kids about sexual issues, their kids listen. Don’t worry that talking about sex is the same as condoning it; hundreds of studies dispute that theory.

In fact, studies show that when parents talk about sex, children are more likely to talk about it themselves, to delay their first sexual experiences and to protect themselves against pregnancy and disease when they do have sex. Unfortunately, there is no known “cure” for herpes. Use of a condom is recognized to be the most reliable method to prevent transmission of the virus. However, effective treatments are available which can reduce the frequency and severity of outbreaks, stop viral reproduction, and reduce viral load, all of which greatly mitigate outbreaks and allow sufferers to control the condition.

Acyclovir is the most popular drug prescribed for herpes. However, the emergence of aciclovir-resistant virus strains has created the need for the development of new effective antiviral agents. New anti-herpetic chemical drug compounds have been identified, but they have significant adverse effects when consumed and HSV has again developed drug resistance to these new compounds.

As new chemical drug options are not viable, alternative antiviral options are being investigated with great interest. Recent scientific studies of medicinal antiviral plant extracts show very encouraging results, and have sparked a new methodology for treating herpes. Studies of these antiviral extracts demonstrate that many of these compounds exhibit significant anti-herpetic activity. Several actually inactivate HSV with great effectiveness. These antiviral extracts represent new effective treatment options for therapeutic use as virucidal agents for recurring herpes infections.

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Posted in anemia

Why Not a Cold Air Intake?

Comments: 0May 2nd, 2010 by admin



Squeezing more power out of your engine is not as difficult or as expensive a task as you might think. Performance chips, performance exhausts, and sport air filters are all easy to install parts that can help your car achieve greater horsepower and torque without sacrificing fuel economy. In addition, a cold air intake can go a long way toward helping your engine perform better without costing you a mint to install. Let’s examine why a cold air intake just might be the enhancement your car could use to achieve a greater level of performance.

So, just how does a cold air intake work? I am glad that you asked! A cold air intake is designed to decrease the temperature of the air entering your car to take full advantage of your engine’s power. Colder, denser air acts like “food” for your engine, giving it the extra amount of power that it needs to perform optimally.

Are there other benefits of a cold air intake? Yes, namely two: a cold air intake enhances the look of your vehicle’s engine bay and it produces an awesome sounding “throaty” intake noise. The intake noise is what tells everyone that your car is not some ordinary stock car, instead you are making a statement that the noise coming from underneath your car’s hood matches the power and performance that they will see on the street.

Depending on the manufacturer you select, your new cold air intake is available in an assortment of colors including red, blue, silver, and chrome. Let’s just say that the colors developed are meant to draw maximum attention to your engine bay when you pop the hood for everyone to see!

When shopping for a cold air intake for your car, there are several things for you top keep in mind as you narrow down your selection. The following list can help you determine the cold air intake that is right for you:

Manufacturer – There are many companies producing cold air intakes, some are better than others. Injen and K&N are two that are preferred by the aftermarket crowd. Look for those intakes that come with a reusable air filter for the best value.

Performance – Claims for outlandish increases in horsepower should serve as a red flag to you. Modest increases of 10, 15 or 20 horses are certainly reasonable depending on the make and model of your vehicle.

Guarantee – Higher quality intakes carry a warranty that will likely outlast the life of your car. Some even give one million mile guarantees!

Retailers – Prices are literally all over the place. The best prices can usually be found right online with a wholesaler such as The Parts Bin. Shop only those companies who can provide to you online support, free shipping, a toll free number, and a clearly stated price list. Watch out for off shore operators who promise low prices on parts that might not be genuine.

In all, a cold air intake should provide the performance edge your car, truck, van, or SUV needs without taking away from fuel economy. In fact, a cold air intake can actually increase your fuel economy as your engine “learns” to work more efficiently, thus needing less fuel to run.

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Posted in Allergy And Sinus

Lymphoma: Who is Susceptible?

Comments: 0May 2nd, 2010 by admin



Lymphoma, as with virtually every other form of cancer, can strike anybody at any time during their life however some groups are more susceptible to the disease than others. Studies around the world have shown that age, gender and geographical location affect whether you have a high or low risk of developing lymphoma however there are always exceptions to these suggestions.

Age

Lymphoma is generally regarded as a disease of the elderly and this is true to a certain extent. There are many more cases reported in the over 60s than in the under 60s however this isn’t the only age group that are thought to be at risk. People over the age of 60 often have weaker immune systems than their younger counterparts and so when mutations occur in the DNA of certain cells the body cannot eradicate these defective cells and they go on to multiply and form a cancerous growth. Strong immune systems kill mutated cells before they have the chance to multiply and differentiate which means that younger people are less susceptible to lymphoma.

Unfortunately it would seem that 25-35 year olds also show a marked increase with regards to number of diagnosed lymphoma cases however researchers are still trying to figure out why this is so.

Gender

Studies have shown that men are about three times more likely to suffer from lymphoma than women. Again research is continuing into why this is so however scientists think that female hormones may play a protective role with regards to lymphoma development or alternatively that male hormones make the gender more prone to the disease. As people age the two genders levels out and the probability of a male developing lymphoma is only slightly higher than that of a female developing the disease. This confirms that hormone levels may in fact influence whether a person is susceptible to the disease or not.

Geographical location

It would seem that people living in highly developed countries such as the UK, America, Australia, Germany etc. are at a much higher risk of being diagnosed with lymphoma than those living in places like Africa and Asia. This may have a lot to do with lifestyle and environment i.e. rich fatty foods, air pollution and other carcinogenic agents may decrease a person’s resistance to DNA mutations, however it may also be due to other factors such as natural immunity and the use of prescription drugs. Again nobody knows for sure and more research is still needed.

Even though certain age groups and people in some geographical locations are more susceptible to lymphoma than others, this doesn’t mean that you are exempt from developing the disease if you don’t fall into these categories. Children as young as two years old have been diagnosed with the disease, and so it is obvious that nobody is one hundred percent safe from lymphoma. You should make a point of checking your lymph glands regularly for any signs of swelling and in addition you should definitely consult the doctor should you feel anything wrong.

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Posted in leukimia

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