KNOW YOUR CALCIUM IRREGULARITIES- DUE TO DISEASES-1

HIGH CALCIUM-PAGET'S DISEASE

                                

Calcium is an important mineral in regulating many physiological activities in our body system.

If the serum calcium level is above the normal range (8 to 10mg/dl or 2 to 2.5 mmol/L) the condition is known as Hypercalcemia
In this article, we are mainly going to see hypercalcemia due to Paget's disease.
Serum calcium level is raised alarmingly due to many causes such as over consumptions of calcium supplementations and comorbidities such as milk-alkali syndrome, overactivity of the parathyroid gland, use of certain drugs like thiazide diuretics, an oversupply of vitamin A and D.etc, etc.
But there are certain cancers such as cancerous neoplasms, Paget's Bone Disease, Addison's Disease, Zollinger-Ellison's syndrome, and Sarcoids can also raise serum calcium level alarmingly as a cancer marker.

1.Paget's Bone Lesions:-

This is a condition in which the normal bone tissue recycling process by the body is modified and the bone become fragile with painful lesions.

Paget's disease mostly occurs at the skull, pelvis, spine, breast, and legs.

The common sign is the formation of oozing eczema-like lesions with scaly skins at the site. If it is at the breast the nipple skin becomes hardened and scaly.

The doctor can diagnose if the above symptoms persist with x-ray alone or with blood tests and bone scans.

A blood test at the beginning will show the raising level of an enzyme known as Serum Alkaline Phosphate (SAP).SAP is normally produced by the bone cells to wear out the old bone cells to be replaced by new cells without affecting the serum calcium level.

But in diseased bones the cells double their production of SAP and the formation of new bone cells (bone sorption or formation) is overwhelmed by bone resorption or deformation and the malignant condition is known as Paget's disease.

At the beginning of the disease the calcium levels may be normal but in due course of time the calcium level becomes alarmingly raise due to severe and uncontrolled bone resorption. Some times the body uses the old bones to form abnormal new bones without using serum calcium.

Hence in blood test high levels of SAP are the indicator marker for Paget's disease.

The symptoms are very similar to arthritis and usually occur as joint pain, redness of the skin, swelling, and tenderness of the skin.
Paget's disease differs from osteoporosis, that in osteoporosis the bone becomes weakened by decreased bone mass and skeletal architecture due to focussed bone resorption, and the serum calcium level rises.
In Paget's disease the body absorbs old bones to remodel and form irregular bones without using serum calcium and phosphate.
Paget's disease may cause several complications including cancer as follows:-
1.Hearing Loss
2.Arthritis
3. Cardiac or heart problems
4.Nerve problems
5. Sarcoma but the possibility is 1 in 100
6.Tooth Problem
7.Vision problems

Causes

Doctors believe that a measles attack at the childhood age may cause Paget's disease later on.

Treatments

Treatments can control the progression of the disease but will not bring a full cure.

Bisphosphonates such as Etidronate and Pamidronate can be the drugs along with aggressive intake of Calcium and vitamin D

Etidronate can be given either by oral or IV route 

Pamidronate is the drug of choice for those who prefer the IV routes.

It is recommended for the age between 50 to 70 years 1000mg of calcium and 700 units of vitamin D per day should be given while taking bisphosphonates provided that hypercalcemia and hyperparathyroidism are ruled out.

For the age group above 70 years vitamin D should be given at the rate of 800 units per day.

Bisphosphonates and calcium should be given with a time interval of at least two hours as calcium may interfere with the absorption of oral bisphosphonates.
In both, the above cases calcium and phosphorous should be administered if the condition is not associated with hypercalcemia and hyperparathyroidism.

Bisphosphonates can inhibit the bone resorption process by reducing the functions of osteoclasts and the formation of hydroxyapatite crystals in remodeling the bones.
Also bisphosphonates reduce the reabsorption of calcium and phosphates by the kidneys and increase their excretion.

Side Effects:-

1. Pain in the pagetic lesions is often experienced

2.Nephrotoxicity (Kidney Failure)

There are other drugs such as calcitonin, gallium nitrate plicamycin that can also be used to treat hypercalcemia associated with Paget's Disease.

KNOW YOUR LOW SODIUM-HYPONATREMIA

LOW SODIUM

Sodium-Ion

Sodium is a light weighted metal. It is a strong basic metal and is present abundantly in our body fluids as a sodium ion.
It is a monovalent ion that can able to form a single electrovalent bond with a negatively charged monovalent ion such as chloride or bicarbonate ion.
In our body sodium is present in the extracellular fluids.
 The normal blood sodium level is 130 to 140 Milli Equivalents per liter. If the blood sodium level goes below 120 Milli Equivalents the condition is known as Hyponatremia
Sodium helps cells to be activated. Low sodium cause the following symptoms:-
1.Tiredness, Vertigo, and Giddiness
2.Nausea and Vomiting
3.Headache due to the osmotic effects in between the brain cells.
Due to low sodium in the intercellular fluids, and hypotonicity more solvent is drawn into the cells which may become bulged and ruptured and damaged.
Due to brain and nerve cell damage, one can experience along with headache, confusion, loss of energy, drowsiness, and fatigue.
4. Restlessness and irritability.
5.Muscle weakness and cramps.
6. Damaged cells cause seizures and coma.

Causes:-

Generally sodium is needed by our body to maintain normal body fluid balance, normal blood pressure, and to support the activities of nerves and muscles.

The following medications and lifestyle changes cause low sodium in our body:-

1. Long time use of diuretics (thiazide, loop diuretics), antidepressants, pain killers may cause low sodium.

2. Congestive heart failure and liver failure may cause more fluid accumulation in our body and can dilute sodium levels. 

3 High Anti-Diuretic Hormone (SHAH). High-level secretion of Vasopressin an antidiuretic hormone from the posterior pituitary may cause more ion free water to be reabsorbed by the kidney which dilutes blood sodium.

4. Dehydration due to severe chronic diarrhea, vomiting, and summer weather may cause sodium loss.

5. Drinking more water also may cause low sodium due to the dilution of body sodium ion.

6.Hormonal Disturbances, such as insufficient adrenal gland activity (Addison's Disease), in which there are insufficient secretions of adrenal hormones such as aldosterone to maintain normal mineral balances 

7. Low thyroid activity also can cause low sodium

8. Drug abuses such as amphetamine can cause a dangerous low sodium level.

Diagnosis

1.Blood Tests

2.Urine Tests

Treatments

1. If you are under medications such as diuretics and fluid intake then your doctor will advise you to adjust the diuretic dosage and cut back the fluid intake.

2.IV infusions of sodium fluids. Mostly a half normal saline (0.45% sodium chloride) can be used to raise the sodium level slowly in chronic hyponatremia.

The slow raising of sodium is very important as the rapid raising of sodium may cause brain damage.

3. To treat acute hyponatremia 

4. If a person can tolerate oral fluids he can drink saltwater or any salt preparation if there is no emergency.

5. Symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and vomiting can be treated with appropriate medicines

Cancer Marker

The following cancer incidence can be predicted by the low sodium from the time when it is diagnosed six months to one year time is for the occurrence of the following cancers.

1.Lungs

2.Liver

3.Brain

4.Pancreas

5.Kidney

6.Esophagus

7.Pharynx

8.Non-Hodkin lymphoma

MINERAL IMBALANCES-2-HYPOKALEMIA-LOW LEVEL POTASSIUM

2.HYPOKALEMIA-LOW POTASSIUM

              In this article we study the effects of low-level potassium in our body.

As we know that potassium is an inhibitory ion if its level becomes low in our body then naturally the excitatory effects of other ions such as sodium and calcium may predominate but that is not always the case in practice.

If the blood level of potassium is below 3 million mol per liter then it is said to be low-level potassium or Hypokalemia.

Junk foods such as processed fast foods are low in potassium. People who diet more with processed food only as their daily routine diet may likely to get potassium deficiency.

While taking fresh fruit we must ensure maximum to consume the whole fruit unpeeled. Most of the green vegetables and fruits are enriched with potassium on their skin.

Lake of potassium in our blood may lead to many complications such as cardiac fibrillation including both atrial and ventricular, which is due to uncontrolled heartbeats tachycardia and arrhythmias may follow.

Potassium is controlling healthy muscle contracts, healthy nerve functions, and regulating fluid imbalances.

Low-level potassium will affect almost all body organs and their functions including heart, liver, kidney, and lungs.

Symptoms:

1. Fatigue and dullness, these are the first signs of potassium deficiency. Because potassium maintains muscle contraction and low-level potassium may lead to weaker muscle contractions such as the muscles of the heart, lungs, and kidney. Weak heart contractions produce low blood circulations, low insulin production etc.etc.which leads to weakness and fatigue.

2.uncontrolled muscle contracts may lead to sudden muscle cramps.

3.Constipation and bloating because low potassium causes uncontrolled weak muscular contracts in the digestive system. Hence food movements inside the alimentary canal are very slow or almost nill.

4. Irregular and weak heart contractility leads to palpitations.

5.Muscle weakness and cramps

6.Tingling and numbness of the muscle. This condition is known as Paresthesia which usually occurs in fingers, legs, and arms.

7. Severe potassium deficiency may cause respiratory depression because of the weakened muscle contractions of the lungs.

8. Low potassium levels may also cause serious mental and mood swings.
9. The most important is potassium deficiency can cause more insulin secretions (Hyperinsulinemia)and serious hypoglycemic episodes.

Diagnosis:-

1.Urine Tests:-As a general theory sodium and potassium are competitive to each other in reabsorption and excretion. That means if more sodium is reabsorbed by the body then more potassium is excreted out and vice versa.

These games are controlled by aldosterone from the adrenal cortex and thiazide diuretics at Distal Convoluted Tubules (DCT) and loop diuretics(Lasix) at the Ascending Loop of Henle (ALH) of the nephron.

Aldosterone is the hormone secreted from the adrenal cortex, the only mineralocorticoid from our body plays a role in reabsorbing sodium with the excretion of a little potassium (2%) at the DCT.

Hence if more aldosterone secreted that means more potassium will be wasted out. In other words Hyperaldosteronism may also be a cause for potassium depletion from our body.

In urine usually if the sodium level is lower than 16 mEq/L then there is a high level of potassium is excreted out due to secondary hyperaldosteronism.

Urinary potassium assessments can be made from a 24 urine collection. The normal potassium excretion should not exceed 25 to 30 mEq of potassium per day. This an accurate method. If this method is not possible then follow the spot urine test involving the ratio of potassium to creatinine can be done as an alternate. In this method, if the ratio of potassium to creatinine is greater than 12 mEq/g creatinine (1.5 mmol) then there is an apparent loss of potassium 

2. Random Urine Potassium Concentration Tests can also be used. In this test the measured results should show a figure above 15 mEq of potassium per liter.

3.Tests of Acid-Base Balances:-

After the urine diagnosis the patients of uncertain origin can be subjected to these tests for confirmations.

Diarrhea due to G.I distress or laxative abuses may lead to loss of potassium.

Metabolic acidosis or alkalosis is common during diarrhea, diuresis, or vomiting.

Metabolic acidosis means the blood is more acidic due to heavy loss of alkaline ions such as sodium or potassium and more secretion of acidic ions such as bicarbonate and chloride with hydrogen ions.

On the contrary alkalosis is the vice versa. But in both cases there may be potassium loss due to sodium, and bicarbonate reabsorption.

Treatments:-

Treatments should be based on the etiology of the condition.

Hypokalemia is of two types

The real hypokalemia is due to the actual loss of potassium due to diarrhea vomiting, diuresis by the loop, and thiazide diuretics or aldosterone hyperactivity.

In severe depletion a potassium infusion may be helpful. Otherwise potassium supplements are prescribed by the doctor.
Foods enriched with potassium such as unpeeled vegetables and fruits, potato, sweet potato etc.etc.

The other type is pseudo-hypokalemia in which even though there is no potassium loss but the blood potassium level is lower due to high potassium redistribution within the body cells as in the case of hyperthyroidism, hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, and hyperinsulinemia.
In these cases the respective corrective treatments should be given.

Potassium Supplements:-

1.Potassium Gluconate

2.Potassium Iodide

3.Potassium Citrate

4.Magnesium and Potassium Supplements

 In all the above preparations potassium is supplied per dose not to exceed 100 mg for safety.

HEEL CRACKS-TREATMENTS

HEAL CRACKS

Heel bruises or heel cracks are the most annoying problems in our daily life.

The main causes of the bruises are crushed blood vessels in the soft heel muscle due to crashes or wearing ill-fitting and rough shoes and dry weather.

Further the problem can be escalated by jogging in ill-fated shoes.

A sudden blow to the heel such as during a fall can cause a contusion or injury to the muscle in and around the heel.

Heel bruise can some times cause bleeding under the skin even though the skin is not broken.

In some cases, the crack at the heel that looks like a bruise is actually maybe something else such as plantar fasciitis

A heel bruise can take several weeks to heal depending on their severity by its own course.

The following home remedies can be used to reduce their time course of heal and pain.

1. Apply a cold compress in the bruised area for 15 to 30 minutes daily for several times. This may help to reduce painful inflammation and healing time.

2. Some times applying heat may be helpful

3. In some cases applying heat and ice alternatively may be useful in reducing the inflammation and pain. You can choose any of the above according to your suit.

4. Elevate the foot often above your heart while you are lying on the bed in the day time and keep the foot above your heart with the help of a pillow while sleeping at night. This may help to reduce the healing time, pain, swelling, and inflammation due to free blood flow.

5. Avoid any activities such as exercises, playing on the ground, running, or walking fo a few days. Resting is very important for a quick heal.

6. Give gentle massages daily several times.

7.Apply a plaster which can give a gentle pressure if the skin is not broken

8. Use comfortable shoes

9. Avoid walking with barefoot in rough and hot surfaces

10. Severe unbearable pain can be relieved by taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Brufen) and naproxen (Proxen).

When To See A Doctor:-

Even though a heel pain is a common complaint some times there may be some underlying serious causes such as injuries at the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and nerves.

A doctor can use x-rays or MRI scans to assess the real cause.

Plantar fasciitis which is due to the inflammation of the band of tissue, known as fascia may not heal its own butt needs a surgery.

Other conditions such as heel fractures, Achilles tendinitis, muscle or bone infections, and arthritis also require a doctor's attention.

See a doctor if you have the following conditions:-

1.If the pain lasts for more than 10 days

2.Intense pain

3.Less blood circulation due to swelling

4.Difficult walk or moving foot.

5.A fever following the pain.

BABY AND CHILD CARE:-

As a general in case of any injuries especially in the foot can affect the growth and development of the children. Hence see a doctor within a couple of days.

Home remedies are helpful only to adults.

HYPERKALEMIA-HIGH LEVEL POTASSIUM

MINERAL IMBALANCES-HIGH LEVEL POTASSIUM

                                    

  The metal potassium is an alkaline light metal with a valency of one that means on ionization it will lose one electron and will be positively charged as shown above.

Our body contains potassium usually as potassium chloride. Most of our body potassium is present in an intracellular fluid whereas sodium is present in extracellular or intercellular fluid.

Both the fluids contain the negatively charged chloride ions

Hence both the fluids contain sodium, potassium, and chloride in ionic forms only.

During when a cell is to be excited it needs to be depolarized.

Although both sodium and potassium ions are positively charged, the sodium ion is comparatively stronger than potassium, calcium, and the negatively charged chloride ion in depolarizing the cell. This can be expressed as follows:-

Na⁺ >Ca^++>>K⁺ >  >.> Cl^-

          Na+  ---- sodium ion

       Ca++ --- Calcium

       K+   ---- Potassium

       Cl--   = = Chloride ion

Hence from the above we come to know that when a cell is to be activated sodium ion should flow into the cell with the exchange of potassium ion which would effuse out. An action potential is initiated and when it reached its threshold the cell excited. After the excite the cell return to its rest by repolarization. 

During repolarization the respective ions reverse their flows.

Hence it is very clear that while sodium is considered as exciting ion potassium is to be considered as an inhibitory ion.

This is general physiology to be applied to all the voluntary and involuntary muscle actions including the heart muscles.

Now you can proceed with the following study.

When a person has higher than normal levels of potassium in the blood-the condition is medically known as HYPERKALEMIA-a dangerous life-threatening morbidity.

Generally, chronic hyperkalemia does not exhibit symptoms until to reach a critical level above 7 milliequivalents of potassium, which occurs most probably in End-Stage Kidney Disease. Hence doctors cannot do an immediate diagnosis. A milliequivalent is one-thousandth of the equivalent weight of potassium.

Usually acute hyperkalemia does exhibit symptoms seriously and immediately because the critical level is reached in a shorter period.
The normal level of potassium in our blood should be 3.2 to 5.5 mmol per liter (3 to 5 milliequivalent) of potassium.

Symptoms

1.Muscle Weakness

2.A general feeling of tiredness and fatigue

3.Nausea and vomiting

4.Muscle cramps

5.Breathing difficulties

6.Arrhythmias and chest pain

Causes:-

1.Chronic Renal Disease

2.Uncontrolled Hyperglycemia or DM

3.Medications:-
A.Pain killers such as NSAIDs like naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac, and aceclofenac.

B.Trimethoprim

C.Cyclosporin

D.ACE inhibitors

E.Beta-blockers

F.Calcium Blockers
G.Succinylcholine
H.Heparin
I.Digoxin
J.Mannitol
4.Heart diseases such as heart failure, and lower kidney functions and their treatment medications.
5. Tissue injuries can elevate the potassium level.
6. The lower level of aldosterone can elevate the blood potassium level 
Damage to the adrenal gland or genetic causes of lower adrenal function can lead to hypoaldosteronism.
7. High potassium intake by food or medication during renal insufficiency may elevate the potassium level in the blood.
8.Pseudohyperkalemia: This occurs when taking the blood using a syringe and needle or by cutting or stabbing with a knife may cause injury and hemolysis which may give a faulty reading of high-level potassium.

Foods That Contains High Potassium:-

1.Sweet Potato

2.Canned Tomato Paste, Canned Tomato Products, and Tomato Juice,

3.Beet Greens

4.Potato

5.Proteins such as White Beans, Clams, Halibut, Soybeans, Lima beans,

Tuna Fish and Cod Fish.

6.Unpeeled Fruits and Vegetables

7.Yogurt

8.Carrot Juice

9.Prune Juice

10.Dried Fruits such as dried prunes, apricots, and peaches.

Diagnosis:-

In acute cases, doctors will usually check,

1.Kidney functions

2.Heart functions

3.Hydration Levels

In chronic cases, doctors will ask for checking,

1.blood tests, urine tests, and other routine lab tests

2. Checking medications contains a high supply of potassium 

Treatments:-

1.In chronic cases which usually involves End-Stage Kidney Failure dialysis the choice of treatments

2. In acute cases, the following treatments may help to reduce potassium in the blood,

a)I.V. Injection of Calcium

b)I.V. Injection of Insulin (10 units) followed by I.V. Injection of 25 grams of Glucose

c)Albuterol a beta-agonist can be helpful along with other treatment options in some people. This is available as tablets.

DRUG DELIVERY TO BRAIN-A SAFER WAY

SAFER WAY TO DELIVER DRUG INTO CNS

                                  

                                                     Blood-Brain Barrier or simply abbreviated as BBB is the protective layer surrounds the brain to prevent harmful chemicals enter from the system into the brain.

The barrier is made out of thick endothelial cells that surround the microcapillaries supplied to the brain. These endothelial lining of the microcapillaries are not only protecting the brain system from harmful materials enter into it and also maintaining and regulating reliable nerve signals into the microenvironment of the CNS.
                                   There are three barriers between the blood and the CNS namely the BBB, which is the barrier between the blood and the brain interstitial fluid, the choroid plexus epithelium between the blood and ventricular CSF, and the arachnoid epithelium between the blood and the subarachnoid CSF. Of these BBB exerts the strongest control over the immediate microenvironment of the brain cells.
                         

In simple terms the BBB is composed of 1)The endothelium of the brain capillaries;2)Extracellular base membrane of the brain;3)Adjoining pericytes:4)Astrocytes; and 5)microglial cells.
Hence in general the brain is well protected by BBB.
But in another sense this strongest formidable barrier poses a great hindrance to delivering a needful medication such as medications to treat brain tumors, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease to the brain. Any trial to deliver medicine through the CSF would be flushed out and drained back into the blood.
Hence on an experimental basis the scientists used long wave low-frequency UV pulse radiations to push the medicine into the brain system successfully. But this causes nervous damages and a permanent hole at the BBB. Moreover a long wave low-frequency UV sound pulse radiation needs prolonged radio exposure to the brain tissue which causes many side effects because of unnecessary large protein molecules such as albumin and microbes enters into the brain along with the drug.
A team of scientists at the Imperial College of London, lead by Dr.James Choi, have studied about the use of Short wave UV pulses in mice models and the result is published in the Journal Radiology
They found that the use of Short wave UV sound pulses is having a huge beneficiary efficacious effects over the long wave low-frequency UV pulses.
Short wave UV pulses need less time and do not give chances to the entry of extra materials other than the drugs. The drug is injected as microbubbles into the blood and when it reaches at the site of action the BBB, the short wave UV pulses causes the bubble to enlarge and pushes and open the BBB little by little and entered into it and make the BBB close immediately within 10 minutes and thereby prevent the entry of unwanted molecules. Hence there is minimum tissue damage.
These are major advantages of short wave UV sound pulses over the use of long-wave low-frequency UV sound pulses that need longer exposure.
Still the trial is on an experimental basis now it is critical to say when the system will be conducted on human models.
Conclusion:-
Since there are many modern drugs has been synthesized to cure Alzheimer's Disease, and brain cancers but still they could not be effectively used because of the forbidding construction of the BBB
NB:-
ABBREVIATIONS:-
CNS----Central Nervous System
BBB----Blood-Brain Barrier
UV ---- Ultra Violet
CSF----Cerebro Spinal Fluid

MEDICAL BITS-7

1.FECAL TRANSPLANTATIONS:-

New research has suggested that transplanting stools with balanced gut microbial flora from a healthy person called "super donor" to an unhealthy person can have many curative effects from Irritable Bowel Syndrome to Alzheimer's Syndrome.

In this way even diabetes can be safely cured.

The research is even though still in a Lab test level in rodents a few tests have been done with human models successfully.

Many studies are going on about the possibility of curing many diseases with balancing gut microbiome.

The studies have shown many evidenced links between cancers, diabetes, obesity, depression, allergies, IBS, cardiovascular diseases, and traumatic stress disorders with imbalanced gut bacterial flora. This imbalance is technically known as Dysbiosis.
Researches have proved that dysbiosis is in many ways linked with allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, and heart, and vascular disease.
A recent research study report revealed that there are many connections between the gut bacterial flora and age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's Syndrome.
The important highlight of these studies is there are people with healthy gut bacterial flora which contains the so-called bacterial "KETONE SPECIES" which are the microbial species that produce protective chemicals such as butyrate without which the body cannot maintain its immunity.

2.LEFT BRAIN vs RIGHT BRAIN

Recently some researches from the Ruhr-Universitat Bochum, in Germany have studied the competing dominance of the left and right hemispheres of the brain to overtake the other. They concluded that the process is common in the whole animal kingdom including the insects. They have published there reports in the journal Cell Reports.

The technique is known as Lateralization of the Brain Functions
A detailed one example is the language expertise such as grammar, vocabulary, and literal meaning are typically lateralized to the left half of the brine to all right-handed people which is normal
But these experts are lateralized 50:50 to the two halves or 90% into the right half of the brine to all left-handed people.

3.BASOPHILS

Basophils are kind of white blood cells (WBC) produced by the bone marrow.

Basophils play an important role to keep our body immunity to function correctly.

If basophil levels are below normal that indicates allergies developed in the body.

If basophil levels are above normal then there is an over the function of the autoimmune system with some blood disorders.

Basophils are a kind of granulocytes like neutrophils and eosinophils.

The granules inside the basophils produce certain important chemicals such as histamine and heparin that cause allergies, and inflammations.

The functions of basophils are to produce allergic reactions to resist  harmful allergen invaded in our body 

Also heparin is helpful as a blood thinner to prevent clotting and ensure smooth blood circulation.

Usually granulocytes are at a low level in normal conditions. The normal blood basophil level is around 0.4 to 0.6 percent of the total WBC count.

Their level rises when the body tries to resist an invading allergen to eliminate.

Hence when doctors test for a total WBC count by which if the result showed an abnormal rise in granulocytes levels such as basophils, neutrophils, or eosinophils then it means there are some underlying chronic disorders in our body such as allergies, asthma, and other inflammatory conditions.

High levels of Basophils (Basophilia) indicates the following disorders:-

1.Rheumatoid Arthritis

2.Lupus

3.Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Crohn's Syndrome

4.Diabetes Mellitus

5.Asthma and other inflammatory allergic conditions.

6.Hypothyroidism

4.ALT BLOOD TESTS

This is a kind of blood test to find out the liver function 

1.ALT or ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE is one of the vital enzymes produced in the liver. The enzyme breakdown proteins into minute small amino acid molecules to help our body to utilize them easily.

2.ALT helps the liver to produce bile in order to assimilate fat by the body.

3.ALT helps the liver to filter out toxins from the blood.

4.ALT helps our body to store nutrients and iron.

Usually most of the ALT is present in the liver. But a damaged liver releases ALT into the blood.

Hence an abnormal rise of ALT in the blood indicates there is a liver disease.

Comprehensive metabolic panel tests include glucose test, liver test, and kidney test which is a routine health test which can be done by any individual to check his overall health in a lab.

But an ALT test should be performed if the Doctor doubts about the kidney function if the patient has the following symptoms:-

1.Jaundice

2.Upper Abdominal Pain (Right Side)

3.Pain at the right shoulder

4.Easy bruising or bleeding

5.Itching

6.White or pale-colored stools

7.Abdominal or foot swelling

These symptoms are usually to indicate the following liver morbidities:-

1.Hepatitis

2.Non-alcoholic fatty liver

3.Liver Cirrhosis

4.Celiac Disease (An immune reaction to Gluten)

5.Thyroid dysfunction

6.Infections like sepsis and mononucleosis

7.Wilson's Disease (Disorder in Copper Metabolism)

8.Polymyositis (Muscle tissue damage)

9.Liver Cancer

A healthy liver may indicate a normal range of ALT in the blood as follows:

Male     ----  8 to 60 units per liter

Females have a lower upper limit.

Age can affect the normal range.

Including the above list, the following disorders also raise the ALT
1.Liver cell damage

2.Insufficient liver blood circulation

3.Hemochromatosis or iron buildup at the liver

4.Mononucleosis (Epstein Barr viral infection)

5.Pancreatitis.

5.FOOD ADDITIVES

Food additives such as emulsifiers in bakery and confectionaries are used by the manufacturers to keep the food items in well-textured and last for longer periods in other words to extend their shelf life.

Emulsifiers are very common in biscuits, chocolates, processed meats, and many more.

Now researches on additives especially emulsifiers draws fires.

Recent research on mice shown that emulsifiers destroy gut bacterial flora and cause inflammations in mice.

The research continues to show that chronic ingestion of packed food items can cause obesity, and metabolic disorders because of their added additives especially the emulsifiers.

6.PARKINSON DISEASE(P.D) AND TOBACCO

It is surprising to note that smoking with tobacco is reducing the prevalence of Parkinson's Disease to about 40%. Thus the medical profession is shocked at the beneficial effect of smoking to reduce P.D. prevalence.

Usually pandemic diseases are infectious diseases that can spread by physical contacts or any other communications from one person to another person by the microbes.

But non-infectious diseases such as Diabetes and P.D are also pandemic because of the changes in atmosphere and lifestyle.

In 1850 only 22 people died in the U.K out of P.D.

But today according to the estimation of the National Institute Of Health (NIH) half a million people live with the disease in U.S.alone.

How and Why?

The scientists surprisingly revealed the truth that it is because tobacco smoking is considerably reduced to about 50% which has the inverse effect on the prevalence of P.D

7. IMMUNITY CHAOS TO PREVENT DISEASES

Recent research findings published in the journal Nature Communication revealed that panic swings in some protein concentrations alert the body to prepare protection against certain diseases like cancers and diabetes.

The protein is named as Nuclear Factor-kB (NF-kB).

These proteins activate the gene by its ups and down fluctuations and thereby correcting and inhibiting the signaling pathway proteins in order to suppress the proliferation of cancer cells.

8.MACROPHAGE PROTECTION AGAINST CANCER

Macrophages are kind of white blood cells that are designated to eat unwanted cells such as dangerous foreign bodies bacteria and cell debris.

Cancer cells cheat this system by sending a message "don't eat me" through a special protein called CD47 to the macrophages and thereby escapes from eaten up by the WBC.

Researchers from the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, have found out a method to prevent the cheating of the tumor cells to the macrophages by the method of macrophage priming.

They found that simply inhibiting CD47 is not working. Hence they discovered the method of priming the macrophage

In this method in a mouse model they injected a short stranded synthetic DNA molecule known as CpG along with a CD47 inhibitor.

It worked well as along with CpG molecule and the CD47 inhibitor the macrophages are stimulated well to ignore the "don't eat me" signal by the cancer cells and they effectively attack the tumor cells and destroy them.

9.INSOMNIA

Researchers at the Netherlands Institute Of Neuroscience have found out that there are 5 sub-types of insomnia each differs with their personality traits, the risk for depression, brain activity, and response to treatments.

A study paper has been published in the journal Lancet Psychiatry

Dr.Tessa Blanken of the Department of Sleep and Cognition has told that "while we have always considered insomnia is a single disorder, it actually represents 5 subtypes of disorders"
These 5 types differ in personality traits, the risk for depression, brain activity, and response to treatments.
Still treatments for insomnia is inconsistent because these subtypes are not well recognized.

10.SOFT DRINKS HARM KIDNEYS

A newer hypothesis has been developed by the scientists at the University of Buffalo in Newyork by sample test conducted on a small sample group consists of 16 persons. The study has been published in The American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, and Integrative and Comparative Physiology

16 persons were subjected to run on the treadmill for about 30 minutes followed by a 15-minute labor work under a hot sun in paddy fields.

After these 45 hours of hard work in hot weather after a relax for 15 minutes some of them were given soft citrus drinks with high fructose and caffeine and soda bicarbonate and the rest were only water.
After at least one week the participants returned and performed the routine work once again and this time those who drank soft drinks were given to drink only water and wise versa.

Tests were conducted before, immediately after, and after 24 hours after the session for various parameters, such as body weight, B.P., heart rate, and core body temperature.

They found that there is an increased level of creatinine and reduced glomerular filtrate, in the recently soft drink consumed the group. These two parameters are markers of Acute Kidney Insufficiency (AKI)
AKI is normal and no harm during and immediately after physical exercise due to reduced renal blood flow to retain sodium and water in order to keep up our body temperature and B.P normally. The kidney function is reduced mildly during physical exercise with some dehydration.
But the study has shown that soft caffeinated and carbonated soda drinks actually deepen the dehydration further instead of rehydrating our body.
It is very safe to drink water only while you feel thirsty and dehydrated.