Showing posts with label cell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cell. Show all posts

Thursday, 19 May 2011

Diabetes mellitus types

Author: thiruvelan

Diabetes are broadly classified into 2 groups, they are type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. It is sub-classified into pre-diabetes and gestational diabetes.

Diabetes types

Diabetes mellitus can be broadly classified into two categories, they are
• type 1 and
• type 2

Type 2 diabetes has to other sub types, they are
• gestational diabetes and
• pre-diabetes

"Type 1 diabetes" is also being called as childhood-onset diabetes, juvenile diabetes, and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Likewise, "type 2 diabetes" is also being called as adult-onset diabetes, obesity-related diabetes, and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

Beyond these two types, there is no standard diabetes types, but various sources have defined "type 3 diabetes" as: gestational diabetes, insulin-resistant type 1 diabetes or double diabetes, type 2 diabetes which requires injected insulin, and latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (or LADA or "type 1.5" diabetes).

Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is characterized by loss of the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas which leads to insulin deficiency. The majority of type 1 diabetes is of beta cell loss by autoimmune attack. There is no known preventive measure against type 1 diabetes, which causes approximately 10% of diabetes mellitus cases. Type 1 diabetes can affect children or adults but was previously termed "juvenile diabetes or childhood-onset diabetes" because it represents a majority of the diabetes cases in children.

Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by insulin resistance which may be combined with relatively reduced insulin secretion. The improper utilization or sensitivity of body tissues to insulin is believed to involve the insulin receptor. However, the specific defects are not known, but excess fat deposits in the muscle cell are assumed to be the cause. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes.

In the early stage of type 2 diabetes, the abnormality in insulin sensitivity can be overcome by medication that improve insulin sensitivity or reduce the production of glucose by liver. As the disease progresses, due to low level of insulin secretion a therapeutic replacement of insulin often becomes necessary.

Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a sub class of type 2 diabetes, involving a combination of relatively inadequate insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity. It occurs in about 2%-5% of all pregnancies and mostly it will disappear after delivery. About 20%-50% of all gestational women develop type-2 diabetes later in their lives.

Even though it may be transient, untreated gestational diabetes can cause health issues for both the fetus and mother. Risks to the baby include high birth weight and breathing difficulties after delivery.

Pre-diabetes
Pre-diabetes mellitus indicates a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose level is higher than normal but not high enough to diagnose as type-2 diabetes. Many people diagnosed as type-2 diabetes may spend many years in a state of pre-diabetes.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/diabetes-mellitus-types-1766919.html

About the Author

Author's Diabetes Resource

Diabetes types

Diabetes

Wednesday, 18 May 2011

Peritoneal Mesothelioma – cancer of abdominal lining

Author: Allen Smith

One of the fatal types of mesothelioma is Peritoneal Mesothelioma in which the cancerous cells attack the lining of the abdomen called Peritoneum. Peritoneum is the thin membrane, which shields various organs of the abdomen and also provides a lubricating fluid to enable the organs to move and work properly. Peritoneal Mesothelioma, which affects this lining, is yet now a relatively rare disease that accounts for about 1/5 of all mesotheliomas. Its only known cause in the U.S. till date is previous exposure to asbestos.

Major symptoms

Though Mesothelioma is neither age nor sex specific, peritoneal Mesothelioma is mostly seen in men who are in the age group of 50-70 years. There are a number of symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma most of which start appearing after 20, 30 or 50 years after the exposure to asbestos. These symptoms may include weight loss (however, waist line may increase), pain or swelling in the abdomen, weakness, loss of appetite, bowel obstruction, anemia, nausea and fever. Also, fluid often accumulates in the peritoneal space leading to a condition called Ascites.

Diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma

The initial step towards detection of peritoneal mesothelioma includes X-rays and CT scans. For confirmed diagnosis, however the doctor needs to do biopsy whereby a piece of tissue is cut from the affected part of the victim's body and is placed under microscope for examination. If the disease is detected at an early stage it stands better chance of getting cured than the state of diffuse peritoneal mesothelioma, where the cancer has already spread to various parts.

The cure

It's true that peritoneal mesothelioma is fatal and leads to several deaths every year. However, with continued researches, several modes of treatments have been embarked upon and in the future there is a fair chance of the disease becoming absolutely curable. The types of treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

In surgery a part of the abdominal tissue is cut out to remove the tumor. At times the doctor may also need to remove a lung or a portion of the diaphragm as per the requirement of the surgery. Radiation therapy, the second method, requires the application of high energy X-rays to shrink the tumor and kill the malignant cells. The rays may be applied from an external machine or by placing the radiation source directly to the affected part of the body, by means of plastic tubes. Last treatment type is the chemotherapy whereby a combination of drugs is applied to kill the cancer cells. The drugs may be administered by mouth in the capsule form or may be applied intravenously via needle.

However, it is essential to mention that cost of treating any form of cancer is extravagant and you may consult a mesothelioma lawyer to earn you a handsome compensation from the authority who was responsible for your prior exposure to asbestos.

So learn more about peritoneal mesothelioma so that you can initiate the treatment at the very early stage and get cured.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cancer-articles/peritoneal-mesothelioma-cancer-of-abdominal-lining-3787963.html

About the Author

Allen Smith writes about peritoneal mesothelioma at http://www.asbestosmesotheliomacancer.net.

Wednesday, 19 January 2011

Bone Cancer Treatment

Author: Cancer Treatment

Bone cancers are rare forms of cancer that can affect any bone in the body. Two types of bone cancer are multiple myeloma and bone sarcomas. Bone cancers can also happen when tumors that start in other organs, such as breasts, lung, and prostate, metastasize (spread) to the bone. Multiple myeloma is the most common type of bone cancer. Basic information about Bone cancer symptoms and treatment.

Blood tests, X-rays, CT scans, MIRs and ultrasound can all be used in the diagnosis of bone cancer and cancer of the bone marrow. Ultimately however, only a bone biopsy can provide a definitive diagnosis. By examining a sample of tissue, a Pathologist can determine whether cancer is present and how fast it's growing, crucial information in determining the best course of treatment.

Types of Bone Cancer: Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer. It rarely occurs in adults older than 25 years old. Osteosarcoma is usually found in the bones of the arms, legs and pelvis, and in bones that grow rapidly, such as the shoulders and knees.

Ewing's sarcoma is commonly found in children ages 4 to 15, and is rare in adults older than 30. It is an aggressive cancer typically found in the center of the long bones of the arms and legs.

Chondrosarcoma is found in cartilage cells and accounts for about 25 percent of bone tumors, making it the second most common type. Unlike most other bone cancers, it is most common in people older than 40. It is typically found in the large bones of the hips and pelvis.

Bone Cancer Symptoms:

  • Pain
  • Swelling or tenderness of the joints
  • Fractures
  • Fatigue, fever, weight loss, anemia
  • Bone dysplasia with medullary fibrosarcoma
  • Eosinophilic granuloma
  • Multiple Myeloma

The symptoms of bone cancer vary from one person to another according to the location and size of the bone cancer. Pain is one of the most common bone cancer symptoms. Generally, there is a gradual increase in the severity of the symptoms with time. At first, the pain may only be felt with activity or at night.

These are common types of Bone Cancer Treatment:

Surgery

How bone cancer is treated depends on the type of tumor, how aggressive it is, the location of the tumor and whether or not the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. Options include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, or a combination of the three.
Risks include infection, damage to surrounding muscles, nerves and blood vessels, and recurrence of the cancer. Patients are often prescribed a course of physical therapy after surgery to help them regain full use and strength in the limb where the tumor was removed.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is administered by an oncologist, and comprises a series of powerful intravenous drug treatments aimed at stopping and reversing the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy is often used before surgery to shrink the tumor, making surgery less invasive. After surgery, it is used as a safeguard to kill any remaining cancer cells. The drugs kill cancer cells, but also affect hair, digestive tract cells and blood-forming cells. Loss of hair, nausea, loss of appetite, anemia and low energy are common side effects of chemotherapy. These side effects usually go away quickly after chemotherapy stops. Chemotherapy patients are sometimes referred to nutritionists to help with the anemia and loss of appetite.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is administered by a radiation oncologist, and comprises a series of high-energy X-rays aimed at the site of the tumor. This treatment is given in small doses over several days, sometimes months. The most common side effects are loss of appetite, fatigue and damage to the skin and other soft tissue at the site of the treatment. Patients who undergo surgery near the site of radiation therapy sometimes are slow to heal because of damage to the blood vessels at the site. Most side effects go away quickly after radiation therapy is over, but problems with slow healing may persist.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cancer-articles/bone-cancer-treatment-2793236.html

About the Author

Sarasota Interventional Radiology using Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) for Bone cancer treatment. Interventional radiology technique has really proved to be helpful to diagnose some of the most dangerous diseases like cancer. More Info Visit http://www.sivr.net

Tuesday, 11 January 2011

Mesothelioma Cancer, And The Asbestos Exposure Risk Component

Author: Mesothelioma Law

Excessive cough, breathlessness, chest pain, weakness, cachexia (unexplained weight loss) etc are a fraction of the traits of a dreaded cancer called mesothelioma. It is a cancer affecting mesothelium of pleura, peritoneum, and/or pericardium. The cancer cells grow fast at times and lead to metastasis to distant organs in the body, thus evoking an undesirable prognosis.

If we examine the number of cases of this cancer worldwide, we percieve that it is regretably increasing over years and the information say that it may climb further. What is the root cause behind this damaging cancer?

The leading factor that governs the mesothelioma cancer is asbestos exposure. The contact with asbestos fiber is compared to setting ourselves up to be unsuccessful. The incidence of the disease is therefore high in occupations those get direct contact with asbestos. The sectors include ship yard field, roof shingles, construction trade, etc..

This is exactly why the laborers listed here are at the highest threat of getting the mesothelioma cancer. Also several solvents and chemicals used in specific industrial sectors are risky and could work as triggers for genetic mutation to happen.

Inevitably the genetic mutation continues as the key causative variable for almost any cancer. But asbestos exposure serves as a trigger for this mutation. The particles of asbestos are microscopic and they are often breathed in simply while working in its location. These particles when inhaled stick in the lungs and possess the capacity to remain there for very long period. This initiates the beginning of the cancer although it takes two or three decades for symptoms to surface.

That's the reason why many general practitioners overlook the diagnosis and consider the severe cough is because of pneumonia. Though very careful investigative studies, doctors can diagnose mesothelioma, and pleural biopsy is the final test that confirms the diagnosis. It is definitely good for the affected individual when this diagnosis is conducted at beginning stages so that his probability of recuperation and life improve by leaps and bounds.

Comprehending the dangerous effect of asbestos, for this reason, numerous governments today (like UK Government) have taken strict actions against the occupational environment and have resolved the amounts of asbestos allowable in the workplaces. But in countless developing countries, using asbestos is the norm, and this is increasing the incidence of mesothelioma.

The most significant aspect about avoidance of asbestos exposure is that for putting into action such prevention, employers need not devote huge dollars. Merely making accessible a well-fitting mask is enough for protecting enormous amounts of asbestos employees throughout the world. However this action seems difficult for some companies. That is the reason why these companies currently can be disciplined and sought compensations from by filing a lawsuit.

The mesothelioma sufferers can speak to mesothelioma law firm and file a case against such reckless employers. No question prevention is much better than a cure. But if your company cuased you to endure this serious cancer, you should be due compensation for health-related expenses and lost wages.

Just beware of this harmful cancer. If you or your family member is working in comparable industries, help to make certain your employer is taking care of appropriate preventive steps and if not, you can raise your voice in opposition to it! You ought to have safety at your job!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/personal-injury-articles/mesothelioma-cancer-and-the-asbetos-exposure-risk-component-2155355.html

About the Author

Proceed here to acquire more details on locating Mesothelioma Legal Advice