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Postnatal 'Confinement' Food – Part 2

Everyone will ask you to eat only 'healthy' food and avoid cold or cooling food as your body is cold after childbirth. This applies to the 3 main races in Malaysia but sometimes, what is considered 'healthy' may be 'cooling' for another which increases our dilemma. The best option is to try out the food as far as your culture and religion advices and learn to substitute the ingredients wherever possible to suit your taste. I am afraid that my culinary expertise is limited to Chinese and Western food so I can only talk about this type of food at this moment in time.

Traditional Chinese confinement food consoles mainly of old ginger, rice wine, sesame oil, black vinegar, some warming alcohol, lots of meat especially kampong chicken and lean pork, white fish such as white pomfret and some vegetables.

Appropriately, you are expected to eat 30 chickens, 12 bottles of rice wine and 15 kilos of old ginger root during this period. Whatever you can achieve this target is up to you but I find that most women nowdays can not manage it. On average, if you do practice what is recommended, the cost could easily be about RM 1000.00 ++ just for the food only.

Food to avoid during the first week only

Ginger – Delays healing of wounds and increase risk of jaundice in baby. Substitute with peppercorn or garlic.

Fish – Causes foul smelling lochia or discharge.

Alcohols which are recommended for consumption during the confinement month are: Brandy, Yomeishu, rice wine and Guinness Malta because they are 'yang'. If you are a non-drinker, this sudden consumption may cause alcohol rash, redness in the face and heart palpitations, so do take it easy. Alcohol does go to the baby through breast milk, so if you want a good night's sleep, drink the alcohol after your dinner. The content of alcohol is reduced during cooking therefore you might consider adding it to your food during cooking instead of drinking it neat. Guinness Malta is non alcoholic and has high iron content there before is suitable if you are anemic. Pulut rice is rich in iron therefore is used to make rice wine for postnatal nursing mothers. The rice is low in fat and free of cholesterol with high dietary fiber to reduce risk of heart attack and diabetes. It is better known as Shaoxing wine.

Drinks

It is believed that iced or cold drinks may cause severe shock to the system and further weakened the 'cold' body there before it is strongly recommended that boiled warm teas are consumed throughout the day as they are provided to help heat up the womb. For those who do not believe in these teas you may try drinking Chamomile tea which is beneficial for the baby as well, because it helps to reduce wind

Soups

Soup is a nutritious replacement for water. You can use any meat for stock. The meat supplies fat that is essential for extraction of fat soluble nutrients. Drinking soup about 1 hour before breastfeeding may help to increase milk flow. Chinese soups are usually clear and easier to drink compared to creamy western soups and it is less fattening.

Below are some food ingredients that you might want to add to your diet during the postnatal 'confinement' month.

Boxthorn fruit or Chinese wolf berry is best known to correct poor eyesight and eye strain. Used in conjunction with other herbs it is effective for improving energy and strength

Chinese angelica root or dong kwai is alleged to nourish the female organs, alleviate menstrual pain and prevent hemorrhage.

Chinese yam (wai san) used in conjuction with meat and other herbs aids digestion, regulate sugar level and control pollution of the uterus. The dried variety must be soaked for at least 15 minutes before use to remove the powder

Solomon's seal (yok chuk) is used to alleviate many ailments especially those affecting the throat and lungs

Sesame oil, coupled being rich in Vitamin E, Iron & Calcium, helps heal the womb and rid it of "dirty residual blood".

Chestnuts invigorate vital energy. Resolves fatigue depression and irritability. High in phosphorous, selenium and calcium

Black vinegar is made from glutinous rice and lowers ph of food. It leaches calcium from bones cooked with it, therefore it is used to prepare high calcium food especially for breastfeeding feeding mothers and it also relieves a windy abdomen.

Dill has antibacterial and antispasmodic properties. It is a warm herb which aids digestion, gets rid of gas, encourages lactation, freshens the breath and soothes colic. It is the main ingredient in Gripe water.

Almonds and walnuts contain leucine and isoleucine which are amino acids that regulates growth, blood sugar and wound healing.

Malay confinement food is the same as normal but with a lot of jamu which is basically natural herbal remedies used internally and externally for health and beauty. Make sure the products are registered with the Ministry of Health and that they are locally produced

Kani seeds contain antioxidants to promote youthfulness, tight vaginal muscles, advances excessive discharge, odor and itchiness. It firms the breasts and promotes healing of the reproductive system after childbirth.

Gallanggal is a member of the ginger family and it functions as an antibiotic. It warms the body, cleanses the blood, improves appetite, reduces wind and energizes the muscles.

Pegaga leaves increases energy, helps ease sleeping problems, improves blood circulation.

Turmeric functions as an antibiotic and promotes a healthy circulatory system.

Drumstick leaves are rich in proteins, vitamin C and A, beta-carotene, iron, calcium, potassium and other minerals. Because of their nutrients and ability to encourage milk flow, they are a valuable food for survival in impoverished countries.

The most important thing to remember is that you must be comfortable with what you eat. Do not force yourself to eat something that you do not like or will cause problems later. Although you are 'in confinement' you are not a prisoner per se.

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Stage 4 Cancer Survival Rate

As man is now become successful in inventing new machines for various purposes in his day-to-day life. Not only this, science has also delivered knowledge to man with the help of which man can step on to the moon. But with all this man has suffered in medical as new diseases are now being discovered. Some of them are not new and they are familiar to everyone. One such disease is the CANCER. One surely gets astonished listening its name and thinks that nothing is now in front of him/her accept death.

Cancer has different stages depending on the critical situation of the patient who is suffering from Cancer. This criterion depends on diagnosis of cancer. But we have up till now 4 stages of cancer i.e., one to 4. Let’s talk about survival rate in the stage 4 of cancer.

Survival rate is often complicated to calculate. Generally the health experts portray survival rate as expectancy of life. It means that if for survival rate of 65 percent in one year life means that if doctor do diagnosis depending on 100 particular patients suffering from cancer then 65 of them can live for one year. But no one can surely tell that what the minimal expectancy of this rate is.

Stage 4 cancer state is very much dangerous. In stage 4, the cancer spreading elements broaden their limit to remote organs of the human body. Researches have made on various types of stage-4 cancer and their survival rate. Let’s talk about a few of them based on five years of life:

1. Brain Cancer:
Stage-4 brain cancer is extremely dangerous. It generally has its network to the sensitive tissues of brain extending to the spinal cord. The researched survival rate for brain cancer in stage four is about 11 to 15 %.

2. Lung Cancer:
Stage 4 lung cancer is generally dangerous but not as much as if of brain. It is treatable. The researched survival rate for stage 4 lung cancer is about 45 to 49 or 50 %.

3. Liver Cancer:
It is also one of the very dangerous states of stage 4 cancer. Patients suffering from lever cancer have a survival rate of 30 to 40 % in a lifetime of five years as discussed above.

4. Breast Cancer:
Breast cancer is not as much dangerous as compared to other types and especially brain cancer. It is detectable in its very premature stages which is a plus point for the patients suffering from this cancer. Its survival rate is about 12 to 17 % in a life of five years.

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Detailed Information on Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. It is responsible for 1.3 million deaths worldwide annually. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, among both men and women. An estimated 173,700 new cases of lung cancer and an estimated 160,440 deaths from lung cancer will occur in the United States. It claims more lives each year than colon, prostate, lymph and breast cancers combined.Cigarette smoking causes most lung cancers. The more cigarettes you smoke per day and the earlier you started smoking, the greater your risk of lung cancer. High levels of pollution, radiation and asbestos exposure may also increase risk.Asbestos can cause a variety of lung diseases, including lung cancer. There is a synergistic effect between tobacco smoking.

The most common symptoms are shortness of breath, coughing (including coughing up blood), chest pain ,repeated problems with pneumonia or bronchitis and weight loss. Many lung cancers have a rich blood supply. The surface of the cancer may be breakable, leading to bleeding from the cancer into the airway. Treatment for lung cancer depends on the cancer’s specific cell type, how far it has spread, and the patient’s performance status. Common treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Wedge resection to remove a small section of lung that contains the tumor along with a margin of healthy tissue. Lobectomy to remove the entire lobe of one lung. Pneumonectomy to remove an entire lung. Bevacizumab stops a tumor from creating a new blood supply.

Bevacizumab is usually used in combination with chemotherapy and is approved for advanced and recurrent non-small cell lung cancer. Photodynamic therapy—(PDT) may be particularly useful for the care of persons with inoperable lung cancer. Photodynamic therapy inaugurated with the injection of a light-activated drug (e.g., photofrin/polyhaematoporphyrin, lumin). Elecctrosurgery is surgery performed using a needle, bulb, or disk electrode. Take precautions to protect yourself from exposure to toxic chemicals at work. Choose a healthy diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables. At least 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week. Biking, swimming and walking are good choices. Stop smoking now. Quitting reduces your risk of lung cancer, even if you’ve smoked for years.

Lung Cancer Treatment and Prevention Tips

1. Stop smoking now. Quitting reduces your risk of lung cancer.

2. Avoid areas where people smoke, such as bars and restaurants.

3. Choose a healthy diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables.

4. Exercise daily biking, swimming and walking are good choices.

5. Avoid carcinogens at work. Take precautions to protect yourself.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Heart Problems In Women

It’s a known fact that on average Women develop the symptoms of heart problems around 10 years later than Men. But if you are asking “what are the symptoms of heart problems in Women”, then you are in need of the signs to look for that may identify a heart problem in you.

So, What Are The Symptoms Of Heart Problems In Women?

Most people believe that chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack, but it’s not so understood that not everyone has chest pains during a heart attack.

Women in fact are less likely to feel chest pain during a heart attack. There have been studies conducted that suggest more women experience relatively minor symptoms such as nausea and back pain, or even fatigue during a heart attack.

Including the warning signs above, here is a list of other symptoms that may indicate heart problems or even a possible heart attack.

  • Shortness of breath.
  • Irregular heartbeat.
  • Weakness.
  • Cold sweat.
  • Burning sensations in the chest.
  • Dizziness.
  • Chest pressure, ache, or tightness.
  • Burning in the chest, or upper abdomen.

Because there are many minor symptoms of heart problems in Women, if you are educated in exactly what to look for, you will then be on the very first step to treatment and even heart problem prevention.

Of course if you feel a multitude of the symptoms above, then immediate medical attention is always the first requirement!

What About Prevention Before Palpitations

Obviously the best ways to avoid heart attack warning signs in women is in it’s prevention in the first place. You have already discovered what are the symptoms of heart problems in women, so now it’s time to find out how to prevent and even stop them from arising in the first place.

Here is a list of a few methods that can lead you to a healthy heart, and get you back feeling great again!

  • Quit smoking.
  • Limit alcohol intake
  • A healthy diet and weight (fresh fruit, vegetables, lean meats, whole grains).
  • At least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day.
  • Control your cholesterol.

By participating in just a few of the prevention methods listed above, you can seriously reduce heart attack warning signs in women, and even prevent them from occurring in the first place.

The best prevention method is always your awareness in what are the symptoms of heart problems in Women, if you know them, then you know what symptoms to look for that can save your life, and also put you on the right path to prevent heart problems in the first place.

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Bronchitis During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, one is prone to getting many infections. Care should be taken to avoid these infections. Bronchitis during pregnancy is caused by viruses and bacteria. The most common causes are the viruses. These are the rhino viruses, adenoviridae, and the syncytial virus. Infections as a result of these viruses lasts for a few days. The symptoms usually disappear on their own. Bacteria infections need to be medicated using antibiotics.

Bronchitis during pregnancy can cause a lot of distress to the patient. Self medication should be avoided at this time. A proper doctor’s diagnosis should be sought for. This will establish the true nature of the condition and the pathogens at play. The pathogens need different treatment plans. You should realize that whatever action you take, it can adversely affect the health of the baby. A doctor’s consultation will guide you on the best way to handle the disease.

Bronchitis during pregnancy can worsen some conditions one could be having. These are high blood pressure and morning sickness. Since bronchitis makes one cough a lot vomiting at this time can worsen too. Foods should be taken moderately. A lot of fluids should be taken so as to avoid dehydration. Medication given by the doctor should be taken according to the prescription. The dosage should be finished so as to avoid a re-infection.

When pregnant, you should avoid people who already have the disease. If you have already contracted the disease, immediate action should be taken to avoid the condition progressing to pneumonia. Medication should not be taken without a proper doctor’s prescriptions.

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Hip replacement

What is a hip replacement?

Hip replacement, is an operation to replace a hip joint with an artificial (‘ prosthetic’) hip joint. It is a common procedure and effectively relieves pain and restores mobility.

Why might a hip joint need to be replaced?

The hip is the joint that connects the thigh bone (the femur) to the pelvis. The hip joint is what is known as a ‘ball and socket’ type of joint. The upper end (head) of the femur is rounded and smooth so that it fits into a hollow cup in the pelvis. This arrangement gives the upper leg the very wide range of movement needed to walk, run, climb and jump.

The hip is a ‘synovial’ joint, meaning that it is enclosed by a ‘capsule’. The space within the capsule is filled with fluid, which allows the two bone surfaces to move smoothly over each other. The bone surfaces are also covered by a smooth substance called ‘cartilage’ to aid this movement.

There are many reasons why a hip joint may need to be replaced. However, by far the most common reason for hip replacement is joint damage due to arthritis. There are two major forms of arthritis, which are fully described in another factsheet. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that tends to affect women in early to middle age. Osteoarthritis is ‘wear and tear’ of the joint and most commonly affects the joints of elderly people. Both of these conditions can lead to destruction of the hip joint which results in pain and loss of mobility of the joint.

The hip joint may also need to be replaced after injury. In older people particularly, the head of the femur can be fractured in an accident and it may not be possible to repair surgically.

A less common reason is death of the head of the femur. This may be from a number of causes, including sickle cell disease, trauma, excessive use of steroids and rare genetic conditions.

What happens during a hip joint replacement?

The replacement joint is an artificial version of the natural ball and socket joint. It has two separate components. The lower part is usually made of metal and is a shaft with the ball part of the joint at the top. The other part of the artificial joint is the socket which fits into the pelvis and this can be made of either metal or a special type of plastic.

There are many different types of prosthetic hip joint, made of different materials and in different shapes. Improvements are being made all the time to strengthen and to perfect these artificial joints. The surgeon performing the operation will choose the type of replacement joint he or she feels is most appropriate for your condition and build.

During a hip replacement operation, the surgeon first cuts through the skin and parts the muscle to get to the hip joint. The femur is then separated from its cup in the pelvis.

The rounded head of the femur is then removed and replaced with the artificial substitute. The natural socket in the pelvis is opened out and the artificial socket inserted. Both parts of the artificial hip joint are strongly bonded to the normal bone using a special glue rather like cement.

The ball and socket are then re- united and the muscles and ligaments repaired. Any final repairs to tissues are then made and the incisions closed.

What are the preparations for a hip replacement?

The hip replacement operation is carried out under general anaesthetic. This means you may be asked to visit the hospital one to two weeks before the date of your surgery, to have a preoperative interview with a nurse and / or the anaesthetist. They will ask you questions about your current and past health, and will need to know about any allergies you may have, medications you are taking (including over the counter products or vitamin supplements), previous surgery, whether you smoke or take street drugs, and how much alcohol you use. You may also be given a physical examination, during which your heart and lungs will be checked to make sure it is safe for you to have an anaesthetic. You may be given routine laboratory tests, such as urinalysis (tests of your urine), chest x- rays, or complete blood cell counts, as well as a hip x- ray. These should reveal potential problems that might complicate the surgery if not detected and treated early. No testing may be necessary if you are in good health and younger than age 65, but each clinic may have different requirements.

Please answer all questions completely and honestly as they are asked only for your own wellbeing, so that your surgery can be planned as carefully as possible. If you are unsure of the names of any medications, bring them with you. You will be told whether or not to stop any medications at this preoperative clinic visit. For example, if you are taking aspirin-containing medicines or anticoagulants, they may need to be temporarily withdrawn or reduced in dose for two weeks before the procedure. If you can, try to stop smoking at least six to eight weeks prior to surgery.

What are the possible complications?

Hip replacement is usually very successful and can lead to an enormous improvement in quality of life. The operation can relieve constant severe pain and make it possible for people who had become virtually immobile to get about comparatively easily.

One potentially serious complication is for the new joint to become infected. For this reason you will be given antibiotics when you have the operation and for a short time afterwards. If an artificial joint does become infected, it may have to be replaced.

Surgery on the leg combined with immobility after the operation increases your chances of getting a blood clot in one of the veins in the leg (venous thrombosis). For this reason you will be given injections of heparin, a substance that helps prevent clots.

Eventually, the artificial joint may need to be replaced, usually after about 10 years. The weakest point is the glue used to bond the artificial parts to the bone. Sometimes the bond can gradually loosen with time. If the joint becomes loose, surgery to repair it is necessary. However, constant research and development is leading to rapid advances in the design of artificial joints and methods of uniting them to the pelvis and femur.

How long will I stay in hospital?

The joint remains unstable for 1 or 2 weeks after the operation. The length of time you will stay in hospital will therefore depend very much on your progress and mobilisation in hospital, as well as your age and general health and how you are set up to manage at home. Mobilisation as early as is safely possible after the operation is generally recommended. Your progress should be discussed with your doctors, nurses and physiotherapists.

What happens after a hip replacement?

The joint and the muscles need time to settle down after the operation as at first the joint can easily become dislocated. You will be advised on how to go about mobilising yourself by your physiotherapist and on how best to sleep so as not to put undue strain on the newly replaced joint. The main point is to take things gently and enjoy your new- found freedom of movement.

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A Quick Guide to Healthy Food Choices

Nowadays we have access to everything. In fact, we can eat almost anything at any time, but does this mean we are eating better? Let´s look at some facts. In the United States:

– Nearly 38% of adults are obese (1)

– 9,3% of the population has diabetes (2)

– About 29% of adults have high blood pressure (3)

– The No. 1 cause of death for both men and women is heart disease (4)

– 1 in every 20 deaths is caused by stroke (5)

This data reflects not only the way people eat, of course, but also other factors such as lifestyle. However, food plays a very important role. Besides being part of our daily life, we need to eat in order to survive.

If we want to eat healthier options, going to the supermarket can be quite a challenging experience. Why? Because everything that is not good for us seems to be more appealing either by the way it looks or how the package looks (this is marketing at its best). As the saying goes, “don´t judge a book by its cover.” So what can you do?

1. Choose Local

If you are looking for fresh fruits and vegetables, then buy local products. By doing this you will be also helping the farmers in your area as well as the environment! Besides this, instead of going to the freezer section to find meat or fish, try to go more often to the fish market or to the butcher shop.

2. Choose Organic

Do you really want to pay for food that was grown using chemical fertilizers and pesticides or for GMO food? Or would you rather pay for quality? This is what happens when you choose organic: it is an investment in your health and well-being. Organic produce might not be so appealing because of its size and shape, but after you taste it you will not want anything else!

3. Choose Seasonal

Nature is so wise. It gives us what our body needs according to the season. For example, have you ever noticed that there is always more fruit available during summer time? Fruit hydrates us and has also a cooling effect on our body, perfect for that time of the year!

4. Choose Whole

Whole grains are slow-absorption carbohydrates and nutritionally more complete (6). Most people, however, eat refined carbohydrates. But did you know that white flour acidifies the body, taking away minerals (7)? Furthermore, food with a high glycemic value (e.g., refined flour products and also sugar), can act as opium does in our brains, which is why for some people it can be addictive, according to research conducted by Dr. Kathleen DesMaisons, specialist in nutrition and addiction (8).

5. Choose without Sugar

When I use the term “sugar” I mean sucrose that enters very quickly in the bloodstream, disturbing the sugar levels in the blood. In the long term, refined sugar increases fatigue and steals from the body minerals and B complex vitamins (7). But, of course, everybody loves eating a sweet thing! Fruit can be one of the best options available, but if you are looking for a sugar substitute you have, for example, honey and coconut sugar.

6. Choose Unprocessed

I know packaged food offers convenience, but next time you buy it please read the label. Do you understand the ingredients or are they too hard to spell? Rule of thumb: if you can´t spell them, then put the package back on the supermarket shelf. Besides this, keep in mind that the less ingredients a product has, the better.

7. Choose Diversity

Eating a bit of everything is probably the best option if you want to have a balanced diet. However, it is important to take into account certain factors such as the season we are in, as I have written above, and our personal characteristics like age, sex, lifestyle and what our organism reacts to certain foods, so listen to your body!

Next time you go to the supermarket think about the options available. You have the power to decide the best for you, so choose wisely.

(1) Flegal K.M., Kruszon-Moran D., Carroll M.D., et al. Trends in obesity among adults in the United States, 2005 to 2014. JAMA, 315(21): 284-2291, 2016 (accessed October 2016).

(2) American Diabetes Association. Statistics about Diabetes. In American Diabetes Association, 2016 (accessed October 2016).

(3) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. High Blood Pressure Facts. In Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015 (accessed October 2016).

(4) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart Disease Facts. In Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015 (accessed October 2016).

(5) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Stroke Facts. In Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015 (accessed October 2016).

(6) Varatojo, Francisco. Foods also Cure. Lisboa: A Esfera dos Livros, 2015.

(7) Pope, Alexandra. The Wild Genie: The healing power of menstruation. Bedfordshire: Authors OnLine, 2001, ed. 2014.

(8) Northrup, Christiane. Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom: Creating physical and emotional health and healing. Rio de Mouro: Círculo de Leitores, 1994, ed. 2009, transl.

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AN OVERVIEW ON PROGERIA: A RARE DISEASE OF CHILD

AN OVERVIEW ON PROGERIA: A RARE DISEASE OF CHILD

Kamal Singh Rathore, Sunita P., Khushboo Sharma, R.K.Nema

Progeria is a rare disease, fatal genetic condition that produces rapid aging, beginning in childhood also known as “Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome” or “HGPS” and “Hutchinson–Gilford syndrome” wherein symptoms resembling aspects of aging are manifested at an early age. Progeria was first described in an academic journal by Dr. Jonathan Hutchinson in 1886, and Dr. Hastings Gilford in 1897 – both in England.

 Its name is derived from the Greek and means “prematurely old.” Approximately 1 in 4000000 people are diagnosed with this condition. Those born with progeria typically live about 13-20 years, It is a genetic condition that occurs as a new mutation and is not usually inherited, although there is a uniquely inheritable form. This is in contrast to another rare but similar premature aging syndrome, dyskeratosis congenita (DKC), which is inheritable and will often be expressed multiple times in a family line.

Although they are born looking healthy, children with Progeria begin to display many characteristics of accelerated aging at around 18-24 months of age. Progeria signs include growth failure, loss of body fat and hair, aged-looking skin, stiffness of joints, hip dislocation, generalized atherosclerosis, cardiovascular (heart) disease and stroke. The children have a remarkably similar appearance, despite differing ethnic background. Children with Progeria die of atherosclerosis (heart disease) at an average age of thirteen years (with a range of about 8 – 21 years). According to Hayley’s Page “At present there are 53 known cases of Progeria around the world and only 2 in the UK”. There is a reported incidence of Progeria of approximately 1 in every 4 to 8 million newborns. Both boys and girls run an equal risk of having Progeria.

Symptoms

Progeria is a progressive genetic disorder that causes children to age rapidly, beginning in their first two years of life. The condition is rare; since 1886, only about 130 cases of progeria have been documented in the scientific literature. Usually within the first year of life, growth of a child with progeria slows markedly so that height and weight fall below average for his or her age, and weight falls low for height. Motor development and mental development remain normal.

Signs and symptoms of this progressive disorder include:

  • Limited growth or Growth failure during the first year of life
  • Narrow, shrunken or wrinkled face
  • failure to thrive
  • Baldness (alopecia)
  • Insulin-resistant diabetes (diabetes that does not respond readily to insulin injections)
  • Skin changes similar to that seen in scleroderma (the connective tissue becomes tough and hardened)
  • Loss of eyebrows and eyelashes
  • a distinctive appearance (small face and jaw, pinched nose)
  • Short stature and small, fragile bodies, like those of elderly people
  • Large head for size of face (macrocephaly)
  • Open soft spot (fontanelle)
  • Small jaw (micrognathia)
  • Dry, scaly, thin skin
  • Limited range of motion
  • Teeth – delayed or absent formation
  • Later, the condition causes wrinkled skin, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular problems.
  • Slowed growth, with below-average height and weight
  • A narrowed face and beaked nose, which makes the child look old
  • Head too large for face
  • Prominent scalp veins
  • Prominent eyes
  • Small lower jaw (micrognathia)
  • High-pitched voice
  • Delayed and abnormal tooth formation
  • Loss of body fat and muscle
  • Stiff joints
  • Hip dislocation

Causes

Progeria usually occurs without cause – it is not seen in siblings of affected children. In extremely rare cases more than one child in the same family may have the condition.

 It is only very rarely seen in more than one child in a family. Progeria is a childhood disorder caused by a point mutation in position 1824 of the LMNA gene (Lamin A), replacing cytosine with thymine, creating an unusable form of the protein Lamin A. Lamin A is part of the building blocks of the nuclear envelope. 90% of children with progeria have a mutation on the gene that encodes the protein lamin A. a protein that holds the nucleus of the cell together. It is believed that the defective Lamin A protein makes the nucleus unstable. This instability seems to lead to the process of premature aging among Progeria patients.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is suspected according to signs and symptoms, such as skin changes, abnormal growth, and loss of hair. It can be confirmed through a genetic test. The health care professional will possibly suspect Progeria if the signs and symptoms are there – aging skin, loss of hair, stiffness of joints, etc. This can then be confirmed through a genetic test. The Progeria Research Foundation has created a Diagnostic Testing Program.

No diagnostic test confirms progeria. Doctors typically make a diagnosis based on signs and symptoms, such as failure to grow and hair loss, which typically aren’t fully evident until your child is nearly 2. However, with the discovery of the genetic mutation that causes progeria, it’s possible to use genetic testing for LMNA mutations at the first suspicion of progeria. The sooner you know your child has progeria, the sooner your doctor can recommend treatments that may help ease the signs and symptoms of the disorder.

A blood test may reveal that your child has a low level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the so-called good cholesterol that helps keep arteries open. This laboratory finding isn’t diagnostic by itself, but may lend support to a diagnosis of progeria.

 Treatment

No treatments have been proven effective.

  • Most treatment focuses on reducing complications (such as cardiovascular disease) with heart bypass surgery or low-dose aspirin. A daily dose may help prevent heart attacks and stroke.
  • Growth hormone treatment has been attempted.
  • Drugs known as farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs), which were developed for treating cancer, have shown promise in laboratory studies in correcting the cell defects that cause progeria. FTIs are currently being studied in human clinical trials for treatment of progeria. it has been proposed, but their use has been mostly limited to animal models. A Phase II clinical trial using the FTI Lonafarnib began in May 2007.
  • Physical and occupational therapy. These may help with joint stiffness and hip problems, and may allow your child to remain active.
  • High-calorie dietary supplements. Including extra calories in your child’s daily diet may help prevent weight loss and ensure adequate nutrition.
  • Feeding tube. Infants who feed poorly may benefit from a feeding tube and a syringe. You can use the syringe to push pumped breast milk or formula through the tube to make it easier for your child to feed.
  • Extraction of primary teeth. Your child’s permanent teeth may start coming in before his or her baby teeth fall out. Extraction may help prevent problems associated with the delayed loss of baby teeth, including overcrowding and developing a second row of teeth when permanent teeth come in.

Prognosis

There is no known cure. Few people with progeria exceed 13 years of age. At least 90% of patients die from complications of atherosclerosis, such as heart attack or stroke.

Mental development is not affected. The development of symptoms is comparable to aging at a rate six to eight times faster than normal, although certain age-related conditions do not occur. Specifically, patients show no neurodegeneration or cancer predisposition. They do not develop physically mediated “wear and tear” conditions commonly associated with aging, like cataracts (caused by UV exposure) and osteoarthritis (caused by mechanical wear).

Epidemiology

Classical Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome is almost never passed on from parent to child. It is usually caused by a new (sporadic) mutation during the early division of the cells in the child. It is usually genetically dominant; therefore, parents who are healthy will normally not pass it on to their children. Affected children rarely live long enough to have children themselves.

Research indicates that a chemical (hyaluronic acid) may be found in greatly elevated levels in the urine of Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome patients. The same abnormality has been found in Werner Syndrome, which is sometimes called ‘progeria of the adult’.

Lamin A

Nuclear lamin A is a protein scaffold on the inner edge of the nucleus that helps organize nuclear processes such as RNA and DNA synthesis.

Prelamin A contains a CAAX box at the C-terminus of the protein (where C is a cysteine and A is any aliphatic amino acids). This ensures that the cysteine is farnesylated and allows prelamin A to bind membranes, specifically the nuclear membrane. After prelamin A has been localized to the cell nuclear membrane, the C-terminal amino acids, including the farnesylated cysteine, are cleaved off by a specific protease. The resulting protein is now lamin A, is no longer membrane-bound, and carries out functions inside the nucleus.

In 2003, NHGRI researchers, together with colleagues at the Progeria Research Foundation, the New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, and the University of Michigan, discovered that Hutchinson-Gilford progeria is caused by a tiny, point mutation in a single gene, known as lamin A (LMNA). Parents and siblings of children with progeria are virtually never affected by the disease. In accordance with this clinical observation, the genetic mutation appears in nearly all instances to occur in the sperm prior to conception. It is remarkable that nearly all cases are found to arise from the substitution of just one base pair among the approximately 25,000 DNA base pairs that make up the LMNA gene. The LMNA gene codes for two proteins, lamin A and lamin C, that are known to play a key role in stabilizing the inner membrane of the cell’s nucleus. In laboratory tests involving cells taken from progeria patients, researchers have found that the mutation responsible for Hutchinson-Gilford progeria causes the LMNA gene to produce an abnormal form of the lamin A protein. That abnormal protein appears to destabilize the cell’s nuclear membrane in a way that may be particularly harmful to tissues routinely subjected to intense physical force, such as the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems. Interestingly, different mutations in the same LMNA gene have been shown to be responsible for at least a half-dozen other genetic disorders, including two rare forms of muscular dystrophy. In addition to its implications for diagnosis and possible treatment of progeria, the discovery of the underlying genetics of this model of premature aging may help to shed new light on humans’ normal aging process.

Possible Complications

Heart attack (myocardial infarction)

Stroke

How we can help children with Progeria?

  • Make a financial contribution. Donations are needed to continue the vital work. No donation is too little or too big – every penny counts in our fight for a cure!
  • Donate your time. Volunteers are also important to  success. Hold a special event like a bake sale or letter writing campaign; translate documents for the families; help with a mailing – we’ll find something for you to do that fits your schedule, location and talents!
  • Donate in-kind services or items. Do you own a printing or office supply business? Do you have a background in non-profit development? These are just some of the many types of talents and connections. The more tasks we can get accomplished on a pro bono basis, the more we can spend on research!
  • Spread the word and tap into your connections. Do you know anyone who can do any of the above.

Care, Coping and support

  • Learning your child has progeria can be emotionally devastating. Suddenly you know that your child is facing numerous, difficult challenges and a shortened life span. For you and your family, coping with the disorder involves a major commitment of physical, emotional and financial effort.
  • In dealing with a disorder such as progeria, support groups can be a valuable part of a wider network of social support that includes health care professionals, family and friends. In a support group, you’ll be with people who are facing challenges similar to the one that you are. Talking to group members can help you cope with your own feelings about your child’s condition. If a group isn’t for you, talking to a therapist or clergy member may be beneficial.
  • Ask your doctor about self-help groups or therapists in your community. Your local health department, public library, telephone book and the Internet also may be good sources for finding a support group in your area.

Helping the child to cope

  • If your child has progeria, he or she is also likely to experience fear and grief as awareness grows that progeria shortens life span. Your child eventually will need your help coping with the concept of death, and may have a number of difficult but important questions about God and religion. Your child also may ask questions about what will happen in your family after he or she dies.
  • It’s critical that you are able to talk openly and honestly with your child, and offer reassurance that’s compatible with your belief system. Ask your doctor, therapist or clergy member to help you prepare for such conversations with your child. Friends who you meet through support groups also may be able to offer valuable guidance.

Conclusion and General Discussion

Progeria, or Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, is a rare, fatal, genetic condition of childhood with striking features resembling premature aging. Children with progeria usually have a normal appearance in early infancy. At approximately nine to 24 months of age, affected children begin to experience profound growth delays, resulting in short stature and low weight. They also develop a distinctive facial appearance characterized by a disproportionately small face in comparison to the head; an underdeveloped jaw (micrognathia); malformation and crowding of the teeth; abnormally prominent eyes; a small, nose; prominent eyes and a subtle blueness around the mouth. In addition, by the second year of life, the scalp hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes are lost (alopecia), and the scalp hair may be replaced by small, downy, white or blond hairs. Additional characteristic features include generalized atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease and stroke, hip dislocations, unusually prominent veins of the scalp, loss of the layer of fat beneath the skin (subcutaneous adipose tissue), defects of the nails, joint stiffness, skeletal defects, and/or other abnormalities. According to reports in the medical literature, individuals with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome develop premature, widespread thickening and loss of elasticity of artery walls (arteriosclerosis), which result in life-threatening complications during childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. Children with progeria die of heart disease (atherosclerosis) at an average age of 13 years, with a range of about eight to 21 years.

Progeria is caused by a mutation of the gene LMNA, or lamin A. The lamin A protein is the scaffolding that holds the nucleus of a cell together. Researchers now believe that the defective lamin A protein makes the nucleus unstable. That cellular instability appears to lead to the process of premature aging in progeria. Because neither parent carries or expresses the mutation, each case is believed to represent a sporadic, new mutation that happens most notably in a single sperm or egg immediately prior to conception.

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  • Labeille, B.; Dupuy, P.; Frey-Follezou, I.; Larregue, M.; Maquart, F. X.; Borel, J. P.; Gallet, M.; Risbourg, B.; Denceux, J. P. : Progeria de Hutchinson-Gilford neonatale avec atteinte cutanee sclerodermiforme. Ann. Derm. Venerol. 114: 233-242, 1987.
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  • Parkash, H.; Sidhu, S. S.; Raghavan, R.; Deshmukh, R. N. : Hutchinson-Gilford progeria: familial occurrence. Am. J. Med. Genet. 36: 431-433, 1990.
  • Plasilova, M.; Chattopadhyay, C.; Pal, P.; Schaub, N. A.; Buechner, S. A.; Mueller, H.; Miny, P.; Ghosh, A.; Heinimann, K. : Homozygous missense mutation in the lamin A/C gene causes autosomal recessive Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. J. Med. Genet. 41: 609-614, 2004.
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  • Rodriguez, J. I.; Perez-Alonso, P.; Funes, R.; Perez-Rodriguez, J. : Lethal neonatal Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. Am. J. Med. Genet. 82: 242-248, 1999.
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  • Varela, I.; Pereira, S.; Ugalde, A. P.; Navarro, C. L.; Suarez, M. F.; Cau, P.; Cadinanos, J.; Osorio, F. G.; Foray, N.; Cobo, J.; de Carlos, F.; Levy, N.; Freije, J. M. P.; Lopez-Otin, C. : Combined treatment with statins and aminobisphosphonates extends longevity in a mouse model of human premature aging. (Letter) Nature Med. 14: 767-772, 2008.
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Support Groups

Progeria Research Foundation, Inc. – www.progeriaresearch.org

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Types of Traumatic Birth Injuries

Birth injury is considered rare, 6-8 injuries per every thousand live births. The concern is that when they do happen, they are extremely traumatizing and can often be prevented. Typically, the responsible persons involved include:

• Doctors
• Nurses
• Other healthcare workers

Any individual who is directly responsible for the health and safety of you and your baby may have caused a traumatic birth injury.

Types of Birth Injuries

Difficult or traumatic births can increase the chances of a birthing injury. Mistakes are much more likely to be made when the birth is already a difficult one. Larger babies and premature babies are more susceptible to injuries. A breech birth is also a complicating factor due to extra instruments being needed to perform the delivery. Misuse of any birthing tools can easily harm a fragile baby.

Some traumatic birth injuries include:

• Brain damage – This can be caused by a number of conditions before, during and after birth. One of the most common causes is lack of oxygen to the baby’s brain, or fetal hypoxia. This can cause lifelong disabilities.
• Spinal cord injury – Injury to a baby’s spinal cord can occur as the result of excessive force or misuse of instruments by the doctor during delivery.
• Cerebral palsy – This condition is also caused by oxygen deprivation or some other injury which effects brain function. The result is delays in child development, abnormal body movements, vision and hearing problems and lack of muscle control.
• Shoulder Dystocia – This injury occurs when the baby’s shoulder becomes stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone during delivery. The doctor uses excessive force trying to dislodge the baby and injury results.
• Erb’s Palsy – Caused by shoulder dystocia, this injury is the damaging of the nerves in the baby’s arm. It can lead to permanent limited movement or paralysis of the shoulder, arm and hand muscles.

Medical Malpractice

It is the medical staff’s responsibility to be sure the baby has enough blood flow and oxygen to the brain during times of distress. If this does not happen, long-term and sometimes fatal injuries can occur. Prevention of further injury may also require a cesarean section. Delaying this decision can cause still further complication and injury.

If the use of vacuum extractors or forceps is required during the birth, improper use of these instruments can cause further injury. In these cases, the doctor may be guilty of medical malpractice.

Common errors for which doctors or other medical staff may be responsible for include:

• Difficult or prolonged labor. This is often due to a large baby.
• Failure to detect the umbilical cord wrapped around the baby’s neck
• Unreasonable delay in performing an emergency cesarean section
• Failure to test and treat health conditions during pregnancy
• Misdiagnosis of pre-delivery conditions
• Failure to recognize negative fetal signs

If your baby has suffered traumatic birth injury at the hands of a careless medical staff, you should contact a lawyer immediately to find out what your rights are. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries or those of your baby.

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Kernicterus – Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Kernicterus is a form of brain damage caused by excessive jaundice. The substance which causes jaundice, bilirubin, is so high that it can move out of the blood into brain tissue. When babies begin to be affected by excessive jaundice, when they begin to have brain damage, they become excessively lethargic. They are too sleepy, and they are difficult to arouse – either they don’t wake up from sleep easily like a normal baby, or they don’t wake up fully, or they can’t be kept awake. They have a high-pitched cry, and decreased muscle tone, becoming hypotonic or floppy) with episodes of increased muscle tone (hypertonic) and arching of the head and back backwards.

Symptoms

The most common sign that a baby is at risk for Kernicterus is yellowing of the skin, especially in the first 24 hours after birth. Sometime, the whites of the baby’s eyes may turn yellow too. Other signs are a baby who is not alert or who is difficult to wake up. Babies with Kernicterus often have a shrill, high pitched cry and may appear weak or limp. Sometimes they lie unnaturally in bed with their bodies arched upward when lying on their backs.

Causes

Kernicterus is caused by very high levels of bilirubin. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that is created in the body during the normal recycling of old red blood cells. High levels of bilirubin in the body can cause the skin to look yellow (which is called jaundice).In some cases when there are extremely high levels of bilirubin in the body or the baby is extremely ill, the substance will move out of the blood and collect in the brain tissue.

kernicterus was once the leading cause of athetoid (writhing) cerebral palsy. Because of the largely effective control of newborn jaundice, athetosis is now a relatively rare form of cerebral palsy. The syndrome in term infants is marked by refusal to feed, a high-pitched cry, stiffness, and arching of the back. Survivors usually suffer not only athetoid cerebral palsy, but high-frequency hearing loss, paralysis of upward gaze, and dental enamel malformations.

Kernicterus is caused by a high level of bilirubin in a baby’s blood. If left untreated, the bilirubin can then spread into the brain, where it causes long-term damage. A low-level buildup of bilirubin is normal. This is called mild jaundice, and it gives a newborn a slightly yellowish tint to the skin and sometimes the eyes.

Treatment

Quick treatment may help prevent further brain damage. Treatment may start with light therapy and fluids given through a needle into a vein (intravenous fluid replacement). Sometimes a baby may also have a tube placed down his or her throat or into the stomach for feeding with a special type of formula. A baby will also have a blood type test so that he or she can quickly get a blood transfusion if it is needed. A blood transfusion may be given to help remove extra bilirubin from the baby’s blood.

Treatment depends on the severity of the condition. Usually treatment for Kernicterus focuses on decreasing the amount of unconjugated bilirubin in the blood. Once the amount of unconjugated bilirubin in the blood decreases, jaundice should go away.

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The History of Online Shopping

The internet is a fantastic and useful tool. With a click of our mouse we can read today’s news, play an online game and if we wish shop to our hearts content. But when did it all start? What is the history of Online Shopping and what does it mean to shop online?

Online shopping is the process a customer takes to purchase a service or product over the internet. In other words a consumer may at his or her leisure buy from the comfort of their own home products from an online store. This concept was first demonstrated before the World Wide Web was in use with real time transaction processed from a domestic television! The technology used was called Videotext and was first demonstrated in 1979 by M. Aldrick who designed and installed systems in the UK. By 1990 T. Berners-Lee created the first WWW server and browser, and by 1995 Amazon expanded its online shopping experiences.

The history of Online Shopping is amazing. Gone are the days of waiting in traffic and working our way through overcrowded stores. All we need is a computer, bank account, debit or credit card and voila freedom! From books, to cosmetics, clothing and accessories to name a few, shopping online is the answer to the 21st century. Simply find the website that offers the objects of your desire, price and delivery terms and in a matter of a few days your purchase is at your door. The advantages and convenience are obviously predictable as we are offered a broader selection, competitive pricing and a greater access to information in regards to our purchase. Online stores are usually available on a 24 hour basis, and permit consumers to shop at their leisure without any traveling and outside regular business hours!

Another point to take into consideration is that when the internet was first conceived it was not with the ideal that it would change the way we shop. On the contrary the web was created as a tool for communicating, which in time let to the convenience of shopping virtually. The history of online shopping by itself symbolizes the change in our society and has by now become a service used by business and regular shopper all over the world.

Shopping online is easy, fun and secure and has for many taken the place of the Saturday afternoon window shopping at the mail. Still considered as a fairly recent phenomenon, online shopping has without a doubt made the life of countless consumers easier and more convenient. May it be for a home loan, buying car or ordering your weekly groceries, the web has forever changed our outlook on shopping.

The history of online shopping shows to all that a good idea, great presentation, and a desire to offer the best to your customers can make a dream come true. Now considered tried and true, it will be interesting in the next 20 years or so to see where the History on online shopping will take us!

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Lower Right Side Back Pain – Know What Techniques to Apply

If you believe your back is an unimportant region of your body, guess again. The Lumbar domain (lower back), executes outstanding roles in your body for instance, holding your body weight when upright, bending and excreting of waste. It equally backs up your spinal chord and the nervous system. Hence, the lower back is a pivot to the entire body and ought to be attended to.

 Lower right side back pains are instantly twined with your daily actions. It could be stimulated through acquiring a bad posture, unbalance of muscular tissue, laborious physical work, obesity, deficiency of work out and injuries, insufficient dieting. Kidney contagions might as well stimulate the pain.

 It involves people of all genres irrespective of factors like social class, gender, age and race. Nevertheless, those who confront the problems at a young age stand a greater probability of the problems falling back afterwards in lifetime. Aged folks, particularly those suffering from Osteoporosis suffer from this circumstance since their bones are feeble and crack or fracture easily. If you are going through lower right side back pain, you should refer to a specialist. The specialist discovers the situation of the pain, and then accumulates data around the patient’s background, career, hobbies, eating habits and sleeping conditions. This helps the specialist in choosing whether to carry on additional examinations. Exercising the right way is the original therapist of back pains and you should tolerate the function prescribed by the specialist. All the same, bed rest is not a cure for your back pains.

There are techniques which require you applying it in seconds. After applying these techniques, you will start feeling the relief you so desire. This technique helps you treat not only the symptoms but also the cause of the pain and how to improve your endurance, strength and coordination exactly where you need it. It gives you the opportunity to settle for a long term relief, and it helps you know the root cause of your pain. It is easy, simple and understandable and the interesting aspect is that it could be done anywhere, anytime at your convenience. Also it helps to improve your endurance, strength and coordination exactly where you need it

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The Most Deadly Disease of All: Denial

No matter what the statistics show about Heart Disease or Cancer, or any other disease, the disease of DENIAL kills more people every year than any other disease. It isn’t just that it kills more people every year; it also maims, cripples, disables, and incapacitates more people and those close to them, than anything else.

Denial is the greatest stumbling block anyone can have. Denying that anything is wrong, making excuses, being a victim, and accepting the status quo will never move us towards a better life. We are either moving forwards or sliding backwards, there is no middle ground. Denial will always cause us to slide backwards and create a downward spiral.

To get beyond denial, it is required that you conduct an honest evaluation of where you are and how you got there. If you want to know what your choices have been, concerning life up to this point, take a good look at where you are at today. Your life is the result of all of the decisions that you have made up to this point of your life.

If you are overweight, don’t blame it on your thyroid – blame it on your lack of making a decision about not doing anything about your thyroid. If you have adult onset diabetes – you may want to take a hard look at your diet and how much exercise you get. If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, or a fungus under your toenail – well you’re getting the picture – what choices did YOU make that brought on the condition?

Developing awareness of your situation is the first step. Taking responsibility for the condition you have is the second step in getting beyond denial. Once you own the problem, then you can do something about it. If you give control to others, or to the environment, or anything outside of yourself, it becomes impossible to better the situation. It is only when you are making decisions about your life, making the choices that allow change to take place that your life can begin to change. It is only with change that your lifestyle will begin to improve. (This is not to say that you shouldn’t collect data and evaluate the information before you make any decisions. Intelligent decisions are arrived at only after collecting as much information as one can assimilate.)

The third step towards improving your life is moving into action. You can change the mind to change the body. Everyone operates from a belief of some sort. Too often a belief is labeled with a tag of ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ but in reality, a belief is only enabling or disabling. Enabling beliefs assist in moving us towards what could be called a positive direction – to a better position is life, better health, more abundance in our lives, and more faith in a Higher Power. A disabling belief might be considered to bring chaos or dysfunction into our lives, to take us in a negative direction, so to speak.

People practice simple disciplines or they practice slight errors in judgments on a daily basis. Are the choices you make constructive or destructive, are they enabling or disabling? Once you recognize and realize that the choices you make are just choices, (nothing more, and nothing less, only choices!) then you can start asking yourself: Are these choices mine? When you take responsibility for your choices, then you can start asking yourself: Will this choice I make put me in a better place or take me further into my affliction? No matter what you decide, at least you will know that you are making a conscious decision and not leaving it to the subconscious or the automatic pilot inside you.

A second way to approach action is to realize that we can change the body to change the mind. It is said that what is in the subconscious is scattered throughout the musculature. In other words, our posture is determined by our disposition and our attitude. By physically standing up straighter and adopting a different posture than you are accustomed to, will force a change in the attitude and affect your belief.

Whether you decide to change the mind or change the body, understand that the task that you are undertaking, while simple in concept, may be difficult to implement. Old habits die hard. We must continue to impress our new desires upon our bodies and minds to develop those new beliefs and habits.

There are two definitions of denial that I know of:

1. Refusing to believe, accept or acknowledge is the first.

2. The second is a river in Egypt – De-Nile

Feel free to chose the definition that works best for you. Acknowledge what’s going on in your life or continue to float down that river in Egypt – the choice is yours.

May you have tremendous success as you trudge the road to happy destiny. Some days it’s going to rain and some days you’ll have more sunshine than you can ever want, whatever the day is like. I urge you to stay on the path and find the real you. The YOU that you truly desire!

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Must Read: The Reality of Economic Growth and Recessions

The most commonly used measure of an economy of progress by government agencies is the GDP, or gross domestic product. It is a dollar value measure of all the goods and services that are in an economy during a time period, generally quarters or a year. It's simple formula is GDP = C + I + G + NX, or GDP equals the sum of consumption, investment, government expenditures and the net of exports. In concept it is simple, but its usage as a tool to measure an economy and provide objective conclusions turns it into nothing more than an unreliable tool that is strictly flawed and in any practical terms, it should simply be disregarded every time it is reported.

What is Economic Growth

For simplicity reasons in this demonstration, say that in one one, all of the variables had $ 100. GDP is therefore $ 400. That means the value of all the goods and services in the economy that year was $ 400. Now in the second year consumption increases by $ 1, while everything else remained the same. Now GDP is $ 401. It is growing! This is basically what we hear on the news and from government agencies 4 times a year. They attempt to brag to the public about their amazing progress in growing the economy. Despite this, and against all the facts, and the numbers used in the example, around two thirds of the GDP is consumption (private activity) and the second largest portion is investment (private activity). Nearly 80% of the GDP is private activity and is unrelated to the government in the first two variable alone, including the actual limits placed upon it by the government in the forms of taxes, regulations and other restrictions. Take those away and consumption and investment would actually be much higher, but that is not the overall topic for here. So please the fact that most of the activity is not by the government, the officials then get out their press secretaries and brag to the public about the amazing job they have done for creating growth … which is indeed intentionally dishonest. Creating growth through giving back some of the money already stolen away to increase consumption is like a bank robber taking $ 50 from everyone's bank account, putting then mailing all the account holders $ 10 and saying, "I increased the size of your bank account by $ 10. " That just does not make sense, but the government, news, and public allows this to become an accepted idea.

In addition to this, let's just forget about the information stated above and assume that growth was indeed obtained, however that is no in actuality a necessity good thing. Like in the example above, in the second year, the economy grew by $ 1, so one could try to argue that now society is 1 better off. In actuality, they are particularly wrong. Egypt starters, GDP is not a measure of well-being. It is a literal measure of value. What did it take to earn that $ 1 of consumption? Did a worker have to work an extra 100 hours in the year in a salaried position to expand upon an advertising campaign to market a new product? Increased work weeks and longer hours for a minute growth level severely seems justifiable and hardly seems like progress. Did the government raise taxes on the population further stealing their wealth and chose to spend $ 1 extra on funding some sort of inefficient program as they do every year? That severely seems like progress too. So what does the growth mean? It means just as what it is literally supposedly to mean, and not what people try to spin it as in the media and government agencies. It means consumption, investments, government expenditures or net exports increased by $ 1.

Another way to look at this fact is simply by looking at the GDP number per person. The GDP per capita is a measure of wealth per person in the measured area. So in year one there was $ 400 of value in the region, and let's say there was also 400 people. The GDP per capita would be 400 divided by 400, so $ 1 per person. In year 2, assuming the population remained constant, it would be 401 divided by 400, so $ 1.0025 per person. PROGRESS! You can now argue that people are better off as their marginal wealth increased. The problem here is, the population in America and on a global scale is not constant, it is growing. So in reality in year 2, the GDP is $ 401 and the population is now 410 people. So the GDP per capita would be: $ 0.98. So we had economic growth, but on a purely per capita scale, people are worse off. That severely seems like progress at all. It would seem as if growth is not a good thing in that situation.

For counter example's sake, let's say that growth in year 3 was by $ 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 and the population only increased by 3. That would sound phenomenal, and in most circumstances one would be justified in making such a statement, but sadly even GDP per capita, which Is a far more accurate measure measure than GDP alone, is not really a measure of anything significant in an economy. It is an average, and as basic stats and math teachers you, that can include extremes on both ends to lead to a number in the middle. Let's say that the entire growth in year 3 was caused by the discovery of oil by one land owner and due to his new wealth he goes and buys himself everything he could ever dream of. So now the economy grows by $ 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, but it all came from one person. Are people directly better off as a result of only one person or one small group of people holding all the wealth themselves. In reality and in extreme circumstances, you could have a warlord come in and steal everyone's assets and then spend that on top of the money of his own and the economy could increase, and the GDP per capita could increase, but still the underlying fact is , Every single person in the country but one is now poor and broke.

Some of the examples are extreme, some of them are not, but the point stands that GDP and GDP are not reliable measures of how people are doing and growth is not a measure of how people are doing. People could be worse off, but we see growth. Their overall happiness could have decreased, the number of hours they worked could have increased, immune systems could have weakened, the air could have gotten harder to breathe, more regulations could have been implemented on their lives … and regardless of any growth, Their overall utility is now lower. In sort, growth and GDP should never be used to measure a nation's or society's well-being.

What is a Recession

For another point to this matter, consider a recession. By definition, a recession is 2 periods in a row of negative growth. So let's thank the media and the Democratic Party for increasing the panic in the market and leading to people changing their behaviors through fear tactics in 2007 and 2008 when they were saying the country was in a recession, even during periods of growth. Definitions only apply to those that are honest. Anyways, that is just a digression, the point to be made here is that amazingly enough, a recession is also not a measure of society. In technicality, a recession could actually mean people are better off. Taking similar examples as above, let's say that in a country similar to Japan (nation with a decreasing population), the GDP in year was $ 1,000 and the population was 1,000 people. Now in year 2 the GDP declined every quarter (more than 2 in a row) and pushed the country into a recession, so now the GDP is $ 990. But with their decreasing population, the population is now 900 people. 990 divided by 900 is $ 1.1 per person, versus the $ 1 per person previously. It would seem that during a recession people are better off. Again, even the GDP per capita is a flawed stat and is overall not quite relevant in regards to overall utility, but the point stands that regardless of all the misconceptions about a recession, recession does not mean a situation where people are worse off. It means 2 quarters of negative growth, regardless of the ramifications of that action.

GDP and growth are nearly irrelevant as a whole when measuring the success of a nation and the population's utility. Despite this, it is the most commonly used measure by reporting agencies and the government to tout progress. While it can be used as a literal dollar value representation of what is in an economy, it bears absolutely 0 weight in how well being, the happiness of the population, the progress or (con) gress of society, and is not an accurate Measure of the wealth the population's individuals currently have. When measuring the value of all consumption, investment, government expenditures and net exports, sure the GDP can be used accurately, when applying any other connotation to the results, it is purely deceptive and most likely incorrect.

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The Silent Worldwide Holocaust of Chemo

Cancer is a problem made infinitely worse by the medical establishment.

This article is to encourage the reader to take some serious reflection on a deadly serious issue. With Jade Goodie in the headline now is a good time to air this issue. To start with we’ll talk a little about the conventional medicine and its processes.

Principles of Cancer Staging and Diagnosis.

Diagnosis and staging are vital for determining optimum management. There are a number of ways that samples are obtained. There are – tissue scrapings from body surfaces like the cervix. -Fine needle aspiration: -Needle biopsy : -Incision biopsy : -Excision biopsy to name a few.

Often the specimens are stained and viewed under a microscope. This allows the clinician to determine optimum treatment and to gain prognostic information. These processes are backed up by full clinical examination. Other investigations used are radiographs, ultrasound, isotope scans, CT, MRI, PET scans, aspirates. Naturally the clinician wants to measure the dimensions of the tumour and identify the exact location for potential surgery.

Commonly used are tumour marker assays – these are proteins associated with so called ‘malignancy.’ A list of some : – Oestrogen receptor and CA15-3 – breast cancer. Carcinoembryonic (CEA) in colorectal. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) – prostate. CA125 in ovarian cancer. CA19-9 in pancreatic cancer. Alpha fetoprotein (AFP). Beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) and lactate dehydrogenase in testicular teratoma and seminoma. Thyroglobulin in follicular carcinoma of thyroid. Calcitonin in medullary carcinoma of thyroid. S100 in melanoma and neuroendocrine tumours. VMA in phaeochromocytoma (adrenal medulla).

These markers help with diagnosis but aren’t always a hundred percent full proof.

The Myth that Chemo Helps.

Chemotherapy was the brainchild of a chap who noticed that mustard gas killed rapidly dividing living cells. Chemo is a cousin of mustard gas. Billions of pounds later there has been very little improvement in survival rates since 1971. Part of the reason for the poor success is that invitro studies are totally different to invivo studies. What there has been is a massaging of statistics.

One of the few studies comparing chemo against another form of treatment tamoxifen – There was no improvement in survival rates compared to when tamoxifen was taken alone (The Lancet, 1996; 347: 1066-71). There is no evidence that it helps any of these cancers – liver , rectal, small cell cancer, colon and bladder. Why is it given, who benefits?

Have They Ever Compared Cancer Patients on Chemo to Those Not on it?

They have never done a study whereby you leave cancer patients alone and compare survival rates with those on chemo. The medical establishment would argue that to give cancer patients no treatment is unethical. This argument relies on the assumption that chemo helps. How do we know that it is the chemo which is responsible for those who survive. They admit they don’t know what causes cancer so the reader must surely agree that maybe some other factors might be at play.

A study in published in Natural News 2nd Feb 2009 showed that chemo hastened the death of some people.

Now with the discovery of Meta-Medicine we can start to answer these questions. With the understanding of the two phases of dis-ease we now know that some growths appear in the first phase (conflict active) and others in the second (conflict resolved). When it appears in the second phase the hands and feet will be warm and the appetite good. The reverse is true when the conflict is active. When it comes to growths in the healing phase the last thing you need is chemo as it knocks the patient back into conflict phase as evident by the effects on appetite. Moreover the slowing of the growth is not because of the chemo but because the healing is now interrupted and will have to be resumed at some point. While the conflict is active, like with lung alveoli tumours, chemo speeds up death as it compounds the sympathacatonia i.e. it accelerates the stress innervation.

Metastasis is a Hypothesis!

This cannot be emphasized enough. METASTASIS is an unproven HYPOTHESIS. With the understanding of this new discovery we now have a new perspective. The leading cause of secondaries is the diagnosis and prognostic implications given to patients by their doctor. In other words millions are signing their death warrants by going to their doctor who has no understanding of the connection of the psyche to the organ. There is a saying “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

“Fear of death” conflict affects the lung. Unfortunately foci appear instantly so by the time the consultant performs a radiograph of the lung he sees a shadow. He claims the original lesion has spread. Sadly it often was the diagnosis of the ‘cancer’ which triggered the new conflict.

This chap I met told of how this nurse screamed when she spilt chemo on her hand. The matron rushed in to calm her down. They then moved over to inject it into this chap saying that it behaves differently in the bloodstream than on the skin. You can imagine his thoughts at that point.

Oncologists Won’t Touch Their Own Poison.

Another cancer patient I met found studies which showed most oncologists wouldn’t touch chemo with a barge pole and certainly wouldn’t give it to their families. 58 out of 72 wouldn’t and she believed that the other 14 said they would to save face. This sort of statement is generally quite well known or at least should be and I encourage the reader to verify it yourself.

In light of what has just been said people have queried this. When oncologists were asked –

“Knowing the odds of successful outcome using chemotherapy are nil in many cancer cases, why do you continue to prescribe chemotherapy?”

The answer he got was this: “We give it to patients so they won’t give up hope and fall into the hands of quacks.” Who are the quacks you may ask!

It is difficult with the scientific understanding of Meta-Medicine to not be biased. Like we look back to the practices of the 1700’s and are appalled, the same will be said by future generations about chemo.

In the meantime the holocaust continues in the name of the fat profits of the pharmaceutical industry. I say holocaust because there is a deliberate suppression of Dr. Hamers discovery. Warrants have been issued for his arrest in Europe and he lives in hiding outside the E.U. not wanting to go back to prison a third time. Ignorance is one thing, deliberate suppression another.

As an example of profits – Researchers from the National Cancer Institute used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results (SEER) Medicare database to examine the costs of initial cancer treatments in 306,709 breast, colorectal, lung and prostate cancer patients over the age of 65. Over the ten-year period studied, the average cost of breast cancer treatment increased $4,189 to $20,964. The average cost of treating prostate cancer increased $5,435 to $41,134, while the average cost of lung cancer treatment went up $7,139 to $39,891. (Gutirrez,D 2008). Who pays, us the taxpayer.

Animals have high survival rates and rarely get secondaries. Of course oncologists don’t enquire about this, more often they rely on results obtained through the torture of rodents to inform their decisions. They say that formaldehyde is a carcinogen. Formaldehyde doesn’t cause cance, it is the conflict the animal suffers from the torture.

What to do?

One of the best things a practitioner can do is free their patients from the insidious, fear ridden consensus field of their illness which unfortunately is what the medical establishment promotes.

Our loved ones are silently slipping away in hospital wards being denied the knowledge of Meta-Medicine and the new approach this entails to their illness. In the words of Dr.Hamer ‘the man who invented chemo should be given a monument in hell.’

Jade Goody is the classic example of what not to do. If got early enough sometimes surgery can help.

Remember that the same people who suppress this are the same sorts of people who drop depleted uranium where children live in Iraq and maimed hundreds of thousands in Vietnam with agent orange. Now they give you and your family a derivative of mustard gas and tell you it will help.Their greed knows no limits, they have no scruples and absolutely love to be in control.Consent is created through the manipulation of the mass media. Wake up!

To end this article we leave you with a quote from a French Professor of oncology – Professor George Mathe – “If I contracted cancer, I would never go to a standard cancer treatment center. Cancer patients who live far from centers have a chance.”

Gutirrez, D (2008) Natural News ( Cancer Industry Raking in Profits on Chemotherapy as Treatment costs skyrocket)