Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Autism-a brain development


Autism is a brain development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old.The autism spectrum disorders (ASD) also include related conditions such as Asperger syndrome that have milder signs and symptoms.

Autism affects many parts of the brain; how this occurs is not understood. Parents usually notice signs in the first two years of their child's life. Although early behavioral or cognitive intervention can help children gain self-care, social, and communication skills, there is no known cure.Few children with autism live independently after reaching adulthood, but some become successful,and an autistic culture has developed, with some seeking a cure and others believing that autism is a condition rather than a disorder.

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Cholesterol -a fatty substance


Cholesterol is a fatty substance (a lipid) that is an important part of the outer lining (membrane) of cells in the body of animals. Cholesterol is also found in the blood circulation of humans. The cholesterol in a person's blood originates from two major sources; dietary intake and liver production. Dietary cholesterol comes mainly from meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products.

Organ meats, such as liver, are especially high in cholesterol content, while foods of plant origin contain no cholesterol. After a meal, cholesterol is absorbed by the intestines into the blood circulation and is then packaged inside a protein coat. This cholesterol-protein coat complex is called a chylomicron.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Yellow fever

Yellow fever (also called yellow jack or sometimes black vomit or American Plague) is an acute viral disease.It is an important cause of hemorrhagic illness in many African and South American countries despite existence of an effective vaccine. The yellow refers to the jaundice symptoms that affect some patients.

Yellow fever has been a source of several devastating epidemics.Yellow fever epidemics broke out in the 1700s in Italy, France, Spain, and England.Three hundred thousand people are believed to have died from yellow fever in Spain during the 19th century.French soldiers were attacked by yellow fever during the 1802 Haitian Revolution; more than half of the army perished from the disease.Outbreaks followed by thousands of deaths occurred periodically in other Western Hemisphere locations until research, which included human volunteers (some of whom died), led to an understanding of the method of transmission to humans (primarily[citation needed] by mosquitos) and development of a vaccine and other preventive efforts in the early 20th century.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Chromosome diseases

Chromosome diseases are genetic diseases where a large part of the genetic code has been disrupted. Chromosomes are long sequences of DNA that contain hundreds or thousands of genes. Every person has 2 copies of each of the 23 chromosomes, called chromosomes 1..22 (or "autosomes") and the 23rd is the sex chromosome, which is either X and Y. Men are XY and women are XX in the 23rd chromosome pair.

The most common type of chromosomal condition is a trisomy condition involving a triplet of chromosomes. Trisomy conditions are chromosome conditions where the disease results from an extra chromosome. Normal humans have two copies of the non-sex chromosomes 1..22, and disease arises if a fetus wrongly gets a third copy of any of these chromosomes.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

The Outer Ear: Catch the Wave

The outer ear is called the pinna or auricle (say: or-ih-kul). This is the part of the ear that people can see. It's what people pierce to wear earrings and what your friend whispers into when it's time for a secret. The main job of the outer ear is to collect sounds, whether they're your friend's whispers or a barking dog.

The outer ear also includes the ear canal, where wax is produced. Earwax is that gunky stuff that protects the canal. Earwax contains chemicals that fight off infections that could hurt the skin inside the ear canal. It also collects dirt to help keep the ear canal clean. So earwax isn't just gross. It's gross and useful.

Ears-the pinna or auricle

The Ear is called the pinna or auricle. This is the part of the ear that people can see. It's what people pierce to wear earrings and what your friend whispers into when it's time for a secret. The main job of the outer ear is to collect sounds, whether they're your friend's whispers or a barking dog.

The outer ear also includes the ear canal, where wax is produced. Earwax is that gunky stuff that protects the canal. Earwax contains chemicals that fight off infections that could hurt the skin inside the ear canal. It also collects dirt to help keep the ear canal clean. So earwax isn't just gross. It's gross and useful.

After sound waves enter the outer ear, they travel through the ear canal and make their way to the middle ear. The middle ear's main job is to take those sound waves and turn them into vibrations that are delivered to the inner ear. To do this, it needs the eardrum, which is a thin piece of skin stretched tight like a drum.

They include:

* the malleus (say: mah-lee-us), which is attached to the eardrum and means "hammer" in Latin
* the incus (say: in-kus), which is attached to the malleus and means "anvil" in Latin
* the stapes (say: stay-peez), the smallest bone in the body, which is attached to the incus and means "stirrup" in Latin

When sound waves reach the eardrum, they cause the eardrum to vibrate. When the eardrum vibrates, it moves the tiny ossicles — from the hammer to the anvil and then to the stirrup. These bones help sound move along on its journey into the inner ear.

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Peripheral Nerve Disorders

Your peripheral nerves are the ones outside your brain and spinal cord. Like static on a telephone line, peripheral nerve disorders distort or interrupt the messages between the brain and the rest of the body.

There are more than 100 kinds of peripheral nerve disorders. They can affect one nerve or many nerves. Some are the result of other diseases, like diabetic nerve problems. Others, like Guillain-Barre syndrome, happen after a virus infection. Still others are from nerve compression, like carpal tunnel syndrome or thoracic outlet syndrome. In some cases, like complex regional pain syndrome, the problem begins after an injury. Some people are born with peripheral nerve disorders.

Symptoms often start gradually, and then get worse. They include

* Numbness
* Pain
* Burning or tingling
* Muscle weakness
* Sensitivity to touch

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Heart

Your heart is a muscular organ that acts like a pump to send blood throughout your body all the time.

Your heart is at the center of your circulatory system, which delivers blood to all areas of your body. An electrical system regulates the heart and uses electrical signals to contract the heart walls. When the walls contract, blood is pumped into your circulatory system.

Your blood carries the oxygen and nutrients that your organs need to function normally. Blood also carries carbon dioxide, a waste product, to your lungs to be passed out of your body and into the air. A healthy heart supplies the areas of your body with the right amount of blood at the right rate needed to function normally. If disease or injury weakens your heart, your body organs wont receive enough blood to function normally.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Noise

Noise is all around you, from televisions and radios to lawn mowers and washing machines. Harmful sounds - sounds that are too loud or loud sounds over a long time - can damage sensitive structures of the inner ear and cause noise-induced hearing loss.

More than 30 million people in the U.S. are exposed to hazardous sound levels on a regular basis. Hazardous sound levels are louder than 80 decibels, which isn't as loud as traffic on a busy street. Listening to loud music, especially on headphones, is a common cause of noise-induced hearing loss. Keeping the volume down when listening to music and wearing earplugs when using loud equipment can help protect your hearing.

There are two main types of hearing loss. One happens when your inner ear or auditory nerve is damaged. This type is permanent. The other kind happens when sound waves cannot reach your inner ear. Earwax build-up, fluid or a punctured eardrum can cause it. Untreated, hearing problems can get worse. If you have trouble hearing, you can get help. Possible treatments include hearing aids, special training, certain medicines and surgery.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Genetic Brain Disorders

A genetic disorder is a disease caused by a different form of a gene, called a variation, or a change in a gene, called a mutation. Genetic brain disorders specifically affect the development and function of the brain.

Some genetic brain disorders are due to random gene mutations or mutations caused by environmental exposure, such as cigarette smoke. Other disorders are inherited, which means that a mutated gene or group of genes is passed down through a family. Still other disorders are due to a combination of genetic changes and other outside factors. Some examples of genetic brain disorders include leukodystrophies, phenylketonuria, Tay-Sachs disease, and Wilson disease.

Many people with genetic brain disorders fail to produce enough of certain proteins that influence brain development and function. These brain disorders can cause serious problems that affect the nervous system. Some are life-threatening.

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Vitamins

Vitamins are substances that your body needs to grow and develop normally. There are 13 vitamins your body needs. They are vitamins A, C, D, E, K and the B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folate). You can usually get all your vitamins from the foods you eat. Your body can also make vitamins D and K. People who eat a vegetarian diet may need to take a vitamin B12 supplement.

Each vitamin has specific jobs. If you have low levels of certain vitamins, you may develop a deficiency disease. For example, if you don't get enough vitamin D, you could develop rickets. Some vitamins may help prevent medical problems. Vitamin A prevents night blindness.

The best way to get enough vitamins is to eat a balanced diet with a variety of foods. In some cases, you may need to take a daily multivitamin for optimal health. However, high doses of some vitamins can make you sick.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Winter Weather Emergencies

Severe winter weather can lead to health and safety challenges. You may have to cope with

* Cold related health problems, including frostbite and hypothermia
* Household fires and carbon monoxide poisoning from space heaters and fireplaces
* Unsafe driving conditions from icy roads
* Power failures
* Floods after snow and ice melt

Although there are no guarantees of safety during winter weather emergencies, you can take actions to protect yourself. You should have a disaster plan. Being prepared can help reduce fear, anxiety and losses.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Newborn Screening

Newborn screening tests take place before your newborn leaves the hospital. Babies are tested to identify serious or life-threatening conditions before symptoms begin. Such diseases are usually rare. However, they can affect a baby's normal physical and mental development.

Most tests use a few drops of blood from pricking the baby's heel. A hearing test involves placing a tiny earphone in the baby's ear and measuring his or her response to sound.

If a screening test suggests a problem, your baby's doctor will follow up with further testing. If those tests confirm a problem, the doctor may refer you to a specialist for treatment. Following your doctor's treatment plan can save your baby from lifelong health and developmental problems.

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Neurofibromatosis

Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder of the nervous system. It mainly affects how nerve cells form and grow. It causes tumors to grow on nerves. You can get neurofibromatosis from your parents, or it can happen because of a mutation (change) in your genes. Once you have it, you can pass it along to your children.

There are three types of neurofibromatosis:

* Type 1 (NF1) causes skin changes and deformed bones and usually starts at birth.
* Type 2 (NF2) causes hearing loss, ringing in the ears and poor balance. It often starts in the teen years.
* Schwannomatosis causes intense pain. It is the rarest type.

There is no cure. Treatment is aimed at controlling symptoms. Depending on the type of disease and how bad it is, treatment may include surgery to remove tumors, radiation therapy and medicines.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is a cancer that forms in your nerve tissue. It usually begins in the adrenal glands, which sit atop your kidneys. It may also begin in your neck, chest or spinal cord. The cancer often begins in early childhood. Sometimes it begins before a child is born. By the time doctors find the cancer, it has usually spread to other parts of the body. The most common symptoms are

* A lump in the abdomen, neck or chest
* Bulging eyes
* Dark circles around the eyes
* Bone pain
* Swollen stomach and trouble breathing in babies
* Painless, bluish lumps under the skin in babies
* Inability to move a body part

Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or a combination. Sometimes before giving treatment, doctors wait to see whether symptoms get worse. This is called watchful waiting.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Neural Tube Defects

Neural tube defects are birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. The two most common neural tube defects are spina bifida and anencephaly. In spina bifida, the fetal spinal column doesn't close completely during the first month of pregnancy. There is usually nerve damage that causes at least some paralysis of the legs. In anencephaly, much of the brain does not develop. Babies with anencephaly are either stillborn or die shortly after birth.

Getting enough folic acid, a type of B vitamin, before and during pregnancy prevents most neural tube defects. Treatments for neural tube defects vary depending on the type of defect.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Neurological Diseases

Neurological diseases are disorders of the brain, spinal cord and nerves throughout your body. Together they control all the workings of the body. When something goes wrong with a part of your nervous system, you can have trouble moving, speaking, swallowing, breathing or learning. You can also have problems with your memory, senses or mood.

There are more than 600 neurological diseases. Major types include

* Diseases caused by faulty genes, such as Huntington's disease and muscular dystrophy
* Problems with the way the nervous system develops, such as spina bifida
* Degenerative diseases, where nerve cells are damaged or die, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease
* Diseases of the blood vessels that supply the brain, such as stroke
* Injuries to the spinal cord and brain
* Seizure disorders, such as epilepsy
* Cancer, such as brain tumors
* Infections, such as meningitis

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Nose Disorders

Whether it's large or small, button-like or beak-like, your nose is important to your health. It filters the air you breathe, removing dust, germs and irritants. It warms and moistens the air to keep your lungs and tubes that lead to them from drying out. Your nose also contains the nerve cells that help your sense of smell. When there is a problem with your nose, your whole body can suffer. For example, the stuffy nose of the common cold can make it hard for you to breathe, sleep or get comfortable.

Many problems besides the common cold can affect the nose. They include

* Deviated septum - a shifting of the wall that divides the nasal cavity into halves.
* Nasal polyps - soft growths that develop on the lining of your nose or sinuses.
* Nosebleeds.
* Rhinitis - inflammation of the nose and sinuses sometimes caused by allergies. The main symptom is a runny nose.