Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Cancer

Cancer is fundamentally a disease of failure of regulation of tissue growth. In order for a normal cell to transform into a cancer cell, the genes which regulate cell growth and differentiation must be altered.

The affected genes are divided into two broad categories. Oncogenes are genes which promote cell growth and reproduction. Tumor suppressor genes are genes which inhibit cell division and survival. Malignant transformation can occur through the formation of novel oncogenes, the inappropriate over-expression of normal oncogenes, or by the under-expression or disabling of tumor suppressor genes. Typically, changes in many genes are required to transform a normal cell into a cancer cell.

Genetic changes can occur at different levels and by different mechanisms. The gain or loss of an entire chromosome can occur through errors in mitosis. More common are mutations - changes in the nucleotide sequence of genomic DNA.

Large-scale mutations involve the deletion or gain of a portion of a chromosome. Genomic amplification occurs when a cell gains many copies (often 20 or more) of a small chromosomal locus, usually containing one or more oncogenes and adjacent genetic material. Translocation occurs when two separate chromosomal regions become abnormally fused, often at a characteristic location. A well-known example of this is the Philadelphia chromosome, or translocation of chromosomes 9 and 22, which occurs in chronic myelogenous leukemia, and results in production of the BCR-abl fusion protein, an oncogenic tyrosine kinase.

Small-scale mutations include point mutations, deletions, and insertions, which may occur in the promoter region of a gene and affect its expression, or may occur in the gene's coding sequence and alter the function or stability of its protein product. Disruption of a single gene may also result from integration of genomic material from a DNA virus or retrovirus, and resulting in the expression of viral oncogenes in the affected cell and its descendants.

Replication of the enormous amount of data contained within the DNA of living cells will probabilistically result in some errors (mutations). Complex error correction and prevention is built into the process, and safeguards the cell against cancer. If significant error occurs, the damaged cell can "self destruct" through programmed cell death, termed apoptosis. If the error control processes fail, then the mutations will survive and be passed along to daughter cells.

Some environments make errors more likely to arise and propagate. Such environments can include the presence of disruptive substances called carcinogens, repeated physical injury, heat, ionising radiation, or hypoxia.

The errors which cause cancer are self-amplifying and compounding, For example:

    * A mutation in the error-correcting machinery of a cell might cause that cell and its children to accumulate errors more rapidly
    * A further mutation in an oncogene might cause the cell to reproduce more rapidly and more frequently than its normal counterparts.
    * A further mutation may cause loss of a tumour suppressor gene, disrupting the apoptosis signalling pathway and resulting in the cell becoming immortal.
    * A further mutation in signaling machinery of the cell might send error-causing signals to nearby cells





The transformation of normal cell into cancer is akin to a chain reaction caused by initial errors, which compound into more severe errors, each progressively allowing the cell to escape the controls that limit normal tissue growth. This rebellion-like scenario becomes an undesirable survival of the fittest, where the driving forces of evolution work against the body's design and enforcement of order. Once cancer has begun to develop, this ognoing process, termed clonal evolution drives progression towards more invasive stages.

Acne-causing bacteria can infect the brain

Bacteria that live on the skin and cause acne can cause an infection in the body, including infections in the brain and cancer. Incident may occur after surgery. Thankfully, this bacterium can be handled.

The bacteria called Propionibacterium acne is often underestimated. But, according to Peter Lambert, micro-biology professor from Aston University, Birmingham, England, this bacterium should get more attention. "It can attack cells and potentially become cancerous," he said.

P. acne usually live in the hair follicles, the pores of the hair out. When the clogged pores, bacteria can cause inflammation  and later called acne. Lambert found that the same inflammation can also occur in the network.
Bacteria can enter the body due to surgery. When infection occurs in the body, P. acne only be considered as a contaminant or cause contamination. P. acne is not considered a cause of disease. "Now we find any abnormalities associated with infection by P. acne. Bacterium as the cause, not merely contaminants," said Lambert.

Christopher Vinnard, infectious disease researcher at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, who was also involved in the study, reported that the bacterium P. acne can cause ulcers on the brain. Her studies involve case reports were found Vinnard boils and his colleagues.

Boils that occurred 10 years after neurosurgical operations. Biopsy showed that it contains a bacterial abscess P. acne. They claimed to be difficult to decide to appoint P. as the cause of acne. But, they get a clue. "The condition of patients improved after being given antibiotics to fight the P. acne," said Vinnard.

Several other studies have successfully linked P. acne with cancer. "P. acne ever found in a prostate cancer," said Lambert. Tissue samples from 71 prostate cancer, 58 found a network that contains P. acne. Meanwhile, from 20 healthy prostate tissue, the scientists did not find P. acne at all. "The inflammation caused by P. acne in a cell can develop into cancer," said Lambert.

Fortunately, although a role in causing infection and even cancer, treatment of P. acne practically easy. "Giving antibiotics can suppress the patient's deteriorating condition," explained Lambert.

Discovery P.acne relationship with infection in the body and the cancer is still young. Lambert, at the Society for Applied Microbiology Winter Meeting in London January 12, acknowledged there needs to be confirmed by subsequent research. (LiveScience)

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Soda you drink, you do not get nothing


We all know that's not ...... yes, that's a beverage companion if we eat junk food. I also drink it, um ..... if averaged only drink 2-3 glasses in a year ...! I hope this is not your favorite beverage right .....
Means we drink soda drinks contain sugar, preservatives and contains no nutrients.
We call it "empty calorie"
consume soft drinks or "liquid calories" is the biggest trigger of obesity other than junk food.
Why do liquid calories is a problem of obesity? when we drink calorie drinks that do not contain nutrients (empty calorie), this drink will make us faster and faster hungry thirsty. This is because the side effects of soda on an interesting beverage fluid in the cells of our bodies so that we will urinate more and forcing our blood sugar rises for a moment.
Liquid calories do not contain nutrients that we enter the calories that are not useful for the body. These calories can not be burned into energy the body, is the same calories as well as crackers foods that contain calories but useless because the body can not use it to energy.
What evidence? you will have no power over even if you drink 1.5 liters of soft drinks .... not compare if you eat rice or vegetables, although little, you will get additional energy.
this is the intent of the empty calorie.
whether we should not consume soft drinks? allowed, provided that we properly manage its portion.
This also applies to products "sugar diet" or "low-calorie sugar "..... does not mean that sugar is also safe for our consumption, we also have to manage them. Many people think sugar is safe. because it is considered safe, so people consume excessive, resulting yes nonetheless attacking obesity.
I really understand how we are very difficult to change their eating habits and customs of our lives, well at least we've tried to try. The important thing is to try sincerely and correctly, changing little by little is very much better than getting worse every year.

How do I avoid soda drinks? we start by replacing it with lemon juice or something. and then replace it again with plain water.
If you can replace your soda 1 cup every day, then ....... we can reduce our calorie intake is 55,000 calories a year!.
Yes ..... we can save an increase of 7 kg of our body weight just by replacing soda with 1 cup of water.
so be smart with your choices ..... drinks and avoid drinks 'empty calorie'
be healthy ......

Friday, January 7, 2011

Recognize Early Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in the breast tissue.
Cancer can begin to grow in the milk glands, milk ducts, fatty tissue and connective tissue in the breast.


Symptoms and Signs

Early symptoms include a lump that is usually perceived differently than the surrounding breast tissue, painless and usually have an irregular edge.
In the early stages, when driven by a finger, a lump can be moved easily under the skin.
In later stages, the lump usually adheres to the chest wall or the surrounding skin.  In advanced cancer, can form a swollen lump or breast skin ulcers.
Sometimes the skin over the lump shrank and looked like an orange peel.
 
Other symptoms that may be found is a lump or mass in the armpit, change size or shape of the breast, an abnormal discharge from the nipple
 
(Usually bloody or yellow to green, may also be pus), a change in color or texture of the skin on the breast, nipple and areola (dark brown colored area around the nipple),
 
breast looks red, the skin around the nipple scaly, nipples are interested in or feel itching, breast tenderness or swelling of one breast.
 
At an advanced stage may develop bone pain, weight loss, swelling of arms or ulcerated skin.
Prevention
 
Many risk factors can not be controlled.Some experts in diet and cancer experts believe that changes in diet and lifestyle in general can reduce the incidence of cancer.

Endeavored to make early diagnosis of breast cancer easier to treat and can be heal if still in early stages.
Be aware, clinical breast examination and mammography as a screening procedure is 3 tools to detect cancer early.
Management
Usually the treatment is initiated after a thorough assessment of the condition of the patient, ie about 1 week or more after the biopsy.
Treatment consists of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and hormone inhibitors.
Radiation therapy is used to kill cancer cells in the removal of the tumor and the surrounding area, including the lymph nodes.
Chemotherapy (combination of drugs to kill cells that multiply rapidly or suppress breeding) and hormone inhibitor drugs (drugs that affect the hormones that promote the growth of cancer cells) are used to suppress the growth of cancer cells throughout the body.