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How Your T-Shirt Can Make a Difference - National Geographic: Did you know that the t-shirt on your back has a major impact on the planet? Producing it took 2,700 liters of water, plus it takes a lot of energy to get it from the cotton fields to your closet. But some of your t-shirt's biggest impacts are in how you care for it. Here's how you can help reduce its effect on the environment.
5 Şubat 2013 Salı
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
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What is seasonal affective disorder?
Seasonal affective disorder is a combination of biologic and mood disturbances with a seasonal pattern. It typically occurs in the autumn (fall) and winter, with remission in the spring or summer.
How common is seasonal affective disorder?
5% of the U.S. population experiences seasonal affective disorder. Because the symptoms are seasonal, they are present for 40% of the year. Although the condition is seasonally limited, patients may have associated depression which would last longer.
What is the treatment for seasonal affective disorder?
Light therapy is well tolerated. Most patients improve within 1-2 weeks. To avoid relapse, light therapy should continue through the end of the winter season until spontaneous remission of symptoms in the spring or summer.
Antidepressant medications and cognitive behavior therapy are as effective as light therapy.
How to prevent seasonal affective disorder?
Light treatment may be used as prophylaxis before the subsequent autumn and winter seasons.
There are many devices available on Amazon, for example:
References:
Seasonal affective disorder. Kurlansik SL, Ibay AD. Am Family Physician, Dec 2012.
Image sources: Record breaking snowfall March 2008 at Aubrey, Texas, Wikipedia, public domain
What is seasonal affective disorder?Seasonal affective disorder is a combination of biologic and mood disturbances with a seasonal pattern. It typically occurs in the autumn (fall) and winter, with remission in the spring or summer.
How common is seasonal affective disorder?
5% of the U.S. population experiences seasonal affective disorder. Because the symptoms are seasonal, they are present for 40% of the year. Although the condition is seasonally limited, patients may have associated depression which would last longer.
What is the treatment for seasonal affective disorder?
Light therapy is well tolerated. Most patients improve within 1-2 weeks. To avoid relapse, light therapy should continue through the end of the winter season until spontaneous remission of symptoms in the spring or summer.
Antidepressant medications and cognitive behavior therapy are as effective as light therapy.
How to prevent seasonal affective disorder?
Light treatment may be used as prophylaxis before the subsequent autumn and winter seasons.
There are many devices available on Amazon, for example:
References:
Seasonal affective disorder. Kurlansik SL, Ibay AD. Am Family Physician, Dec 2012.
Image sources: Record breaking snowfall March 2008 at Aubrey, Texas, Wikipedia, public domain
Why would a person have pink sweat (chromhidrosis)?
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Pink sweat is typically due to chromhidrosis (colored sweat).
What is chromhidrosis?
Chromhidrosis is a rare condition characterized by the secretion of colored sweat. Approximately 10% of normal people have colored sweat (without chromhidrosis).
Two glands produce sweat:
- Eccrine glands secrete a clear, odorless fluid that regulates body temperature.
- Apocrine glands secrete a thick, milky sweat that, once broken down by bacteria, is the main cause of body odor (smell).
Which glands are responsible for chromhidrosis?
- Chromhidrosis is caused mainly by the apocrine glands. They are located in the genital, axillary, areolar, and facial skin. Chromhidrosis is reported only on the face, axillae, and breast areola.
- Eccrine chromhidrosis is rare and occurs with ingestion of certain dyes or drugs.
- Pseudochromhidrosis occurs when clear eccrine sweat becomes colored on the surface of the skin as a result of extrinsic dyes, paints, or chromogenic bacteria.
What is the pigment in chromhidrosis?
Lipofuscin is a yellowish brown pigment that is responsible for the colored sweat. Lipofuscin is produced in the apocrine glands, and its various oxidative states account for the characteristic yellow, green, blue, or black secretions in chromhidrosis.
Are any lab tests indicated?
No laboratory abnormalities are typically found in apocrine chromhidrosis. The following test may help to rule out other causes:
- complete blood cell count (CBC) to exclude bleeding diathesis
- urinary homogentisic acid levels to exclude alkaptonuria
- fungal and bacterial cultures to exclude infectious causes of pseudochromhidrosis
How to treat chromhidrosis?
Apocrine chromhidrosis has no cure. Patients can manually or pharmacologically empty the glands to remove the color for 48-72 hours (until the glands replenish the pigment).
Botox® injections have been attempted in chromhidrosis, with mixed results. Botox is predominantly used to decrease eccrine sweat in persons with hyperhidrosis.
Capsaicin cream (alkaloid found in chilly peppers) also can help.
References:
Chromhidrosis - Medscape http://bit.ly/UmhTXU
Facial and axillary apocrine chromhidrosis http://bit.ly/UmhV1Q
Treating Chromhidrosis - Discovery Health http://bit.ly/UmhVPE
Image source: Sweat, Shaylor's photostream, Creative Commons license. The image is not related and does not show a patient.
Comments from Twitter:
Laura VR Bertotto @LauraAtVMV: Botox has worked well for hyperhydrosis. This is interesting.
Dr. Claudia Aguirre @doctorclaudia: Interesting.
Pink sweat is typically due to chromhidrosis (colored sweat).What is chromhidrosis?
Chromhidrosis is a rare condition characterized by the secretion of colored sweat. Approximately 10% of normal people have colored sweat (without chromhidrosis).
Two glands produce sweat:
- Eccrine glands secrete a clear, odorless fluid that regulates body temperature.
- Apocrine glands secrete a thick, milky sweat that, once broken down by bacteria, is the main cause of body odor (smell).
Which glands are responsible for chromhidrosis?
- Chromhidrosis is caused mainly by the apocrine glands. They are located in the genital, axillary, areolar, and facial skin. Chromhidrosis is reported only on the face, axillae, and breast areola.
- Eccrine chromhidrosis is rare and occurs with ingestion of certain dyes or drugs.
- Pseudochromhidrosis occurs when clear eccrine sweat becomes colored on the surface of the skin as a result of extrinsic dyes, paints, or chromogenic bacteria.
What is the pigment in chromhidrosis?
Lipofuscin is a yellowish brown pigment that is responsible for the colored sweat. Lipofuscin is produced in the apocrine glands, and its various oxidative states account for the characteristic yellow, green, blue, or black secretions in chromhidrosis.
Are any lab tests indicated?
No laboratory abnormalities are typically found in apocrine chromhidrosis. The following test may help to rule out other causes:
- complete blood cell count (CBC) to exclude bleeding diathesis
- urinary homogentisic acid levels to exclude alkaptonuria
- fungal and bacterial cultures to exclude infectious causes of pseudochromhidrosis
How to treat chromhidrosis?
Apocrine chromhidrosis has no cure. Patients can manually or pharmacologically empty the glands to remove the color for 48-72 hours (until the glands replenish the pigment).
Botox® injections have been attempted in chromhidrosis, with mixed results. Botox is predominantly used to decrease eccrine sweat in persons with hyperhidrosis.
Capsaicin cream (alkaloid found in chilly peppers) also can help.
References:
Chromhidrosis - Medscape http://bit.ly/UmhTXU
Facial and axillary apocrine chromhidrosis http://bit.ly/UmhV1Q
Treating Chromhidrosis - Discovery Health http://bit.ly/UmhVPE
Image source: Sweat, Shaylor's photostream, Creative Commons license. The image is not related and does not show a patient.
Comments from Twitter:
Laura VR Bertotto @LauraAtVMV: Botox has worked well for hyperhydrosis. This is interesting.
Dr. Claudia Aguirre @doctorclaudia: Interesting.
"The Parallax Effect of Long Hair" - Ian Gillan's talk
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"The Parallax Effect of Long Hair" is a talk by Ian Gillian, Singer & Song writer with Deep Purple, given at The ICD Annual Conference on Cultural Diplomacy 2012 (Berlin, December 13th - 16th, 2012), The Power of the Arts and Culture to Promote Democracy and Global Peace:
Here is the back story, explained by Gillan: The Magic Bus http://www.gillan.com/anecdotage-45.html
References:
ICD Mediacenter | Selection http://bit.ly/USLnf9
Here is the back story, explained by Gillan: The Magic Bus http://www.gillan.com/anecdotage-45.html
References:
ICD Mediacenter | Selection http://bit.ly/USLnf9
Snow Blower and Shoveling Safety (video)
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Using a snow blower is not as physically taxing as shoveling, but its powerful blades have the potential to severely injure hands and feet. Dr. David Shapiro, an orthopaedic surgeon at Cleveland Clinic, explains the most common injuries he sees with snow blowers:
Snow shoveling injuries land thousands of people in the emergency room every year. 96 percent of them happen at home:
Snow shoveling injuries land thousands of people in the emergency room every year. 96 percent of them happen at home:
3 Ocak 2013 Perşembe
Bell's palsy - NHS video
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Bell’s palsy is the abrupt paralysis of the facial nerve (cranial nerve 7, CN7), resulting in an inability to control facial muscles on the affected side. A common condition, Bell’s palsy has an annual incidence of 11-40 cases per 100 ,000 population. Many patients recover without intervention; however, up to 30% have poor recovery of facial muscle control and experience facial disfigurement, psychological trauma, and facial pain.
From the NHS Choices YouTube channel: Bell's palsy is the temporary weakness or paralysis of the muscles in one side of the face. In this video, a speech therapist explains who is most at risk and describes common causes and treatment options available. Helen explains how she dealt with the condition and recovered from it:
Remember:
U MN damage
U pper face is OK (the patient is able to wrinkle his forehead)
LMN damage = patient is unable to wrinkle his forehead (our patient)
The examination of CN 7 palsy can be remembered by the mnemonic COWS:
C lose your eyes
O pen (the examining physician tries to open the patient's eyes)
W rinkle your forehead
S mile
Two main types of pharmacological treatment have been used to improve outcomes from Bell’s palsy:
- steroids
- antivirals.
The rationale for these treatments is based on the presumed pathophysiology of Bell’s palsy, namely inflammation and viral infection.
In a 2009 study published in the BMJ antivirals did not provide an added benefit in achieving at least partial facial muscle recovery compared with steroids alone in patients with Bell’s palsy.
References:
The benefits of steroids versus steroids plus antivirals for treatment of Bell’s palsy: a meta-analysis | BMJ http://bit.ly/YD3iLG
From the NHS Choices YouTube channel: Bell's palsy is the temporary weakness or paralysis of the muscles in one side of the face. In this video, a speech therapist explains who is most at risk and describes common causes and treatment options available. Helen explains how she dealt with the condition and recovered from it:
Remember:
U MN damage
U pper face is OK (the patient is able to wrinkle his forehead)
LMN damage = patient is unable to wrinkle his forehead (our patient)
The examination of CN 7 palsy can be remembered by the mnemonic COWS:
C lose your eyes
O pen (the examining physician tries to open the patient's eyes)
W rinkle your forehead
S mile
Two main types of pharmacological treatment have been used to improve outcomes from Bell’s palsy:
- steroids
- antivirals.
The rationale for these treatments is based on the presumed pathophysiology of Bell’s palsy, namely inflammation and viral infection.
In a 2009 study published in the BMJ antivirals did not provide an added benefit in achieving at least partial facial muscle recovery compared with steroids alone in patients with Bell’s palsy.
References:
The benefits of steroids versus steroids plus antivirals for treatment of Bell’s palsy: a meta-analysis | BMJ http://bit.ly/YD3iLG
Long Live Rock 'n' Roll? Study Shows Risk to Stars (video)
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A new study from the United Kingdom (BMJ) reveals just how risky rock-and-roll can be - WSJ:
The WSJ summarized the findings of the study published in BMJ:
The research examined 1,489 stars of pop, rock, hip-hop and punk, of whom 137, or 9.2%, died during the five-decade period covered by the study. Nearly 39% of those deaths were caused by factors related to violence or alcohol and drug intake.
North American pop stars were 87.6% as likely to be alive as normal people of the same age and ethnicity—the lowest survival rate of any group identified in the study.
In North America, 23% of solo performers died, versus 10% of band-only stars, the study found. The comparable figures for Europe were 10% versus 5%.
The study doesn't address a widely held belief that drummers are more prone to early death than other musicians.
References:
Long Live Rock 'n' Roll? Study Shows Risk to Stars - WSJ.com http://on.wsj.com/V8O79a
The WSJ summarized the findings of the study published in BMJ:
The research examined 1,489 stars of pop, rock, hip-hop and punk, of whom 137, or 9.2%, died during the five-decade period covered by the study. Nearly 39% of those deaths were caused by factors related to violence or alcohol and drug intake.
North American pop stars were 87.6% as likely to be alive as normal people of the same age and ethnicity—the lowest survival rate of any group identified in the study.
In North America, 23% of solo performers died, versus 10% of band-only stars, the study found. The comparable figures for Europe were 10% versus 5%.
The study doesn't address a widely held belief that drummers are more prone to early death than other musicians.
References:
Long Live Rock 'n' Roll? Study Shows Risk to Stars - WSJ.com http://on.wsj.com/V8O79a
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