About Acne: Getting the Most from Your Doctor

There’s nothing trivial about having acne problems. If you are one of the millions that suffer from acne outbreaks, you know that it can be uncomfortable and even sometimes devastating to someone who is seriously afflicted. As you consider treatment options, you may want the professional help of a physician or dermatologist. These highly trained specialists can be invaluable in helping you achieve clear skin again. While they are not magicians who can make your acne disappear overnight, they can be essential in diagnosing and treating you so that you don’t have to suffer any longer than necessary.



It is important to remember a few things when visiting a skin care specialist. Because there are so many people in the world that suffer from acne outbreaks, dermatologists are often very busy with lots of clients. Don’t let this vex you; a doctor is concerned about your condition and wants to help you. Here are some things that you can do to maximize your visit when you see them. Having effective doctor visits will help you overcome your acne sooner and also help you save money and time.



First, don’t be afraid to ask questions about your condition. Remember, we are all different, so a treatment that is highly effective with one person is not necessarily what is going to work for you. Knowledge about the particulars of your condition will help you better understand the condition you are trying to overcome. You may even want to write down any specific questions you may have to make sure you cover all the topics you want to know about.



The most important aspect of having an effective doctor visit is good communication. By keeping some facts or aspects about your condition from the dermatologist, you are only hurting yourself by giving them an incomplete knowledge of the facts. The doctor can only base his diagnosis on what you have told him, so try to be thorough with the details about your acne. Tell them how long your acne has been affecting you, what other treatments you’ve attempted to do before, what worsens your condition, and any other factors that you think may apply. Tell them how your acne is affecting you emotionally and socially, as mental health is synonymous with your physical health.



Once your doctor and you have discussed your condition, make sure that you fully understand what they will be doing in regards to your treatment. Be sure to understand the correct way to apply the treatment, how long the treatment will last, and how long it will be before you begin to see results. Also, be sure and find out if there are any side effects that go along with the use of the treatment; this will help you be better prepared for any occurrences or problems that may arise. Schedule a follow-up appointment with the doctor and discuss what the status of your condition should be when you return. If you are knowledgeable about the treatment and looking for the desired results, you will know sooner whether your current method is working or not.



Remember that there are many treatments available that work better or worse for different people. Don’t be discouraged if the first method you try does not attain the desired results. Be patient and work with your doctor and you will soon be able to find the most effective treatment that is right for you.

Stem Cell Treatment May Restore Cognitive Function In Patients With Brain Cancer

Stem cell therapy may restore cognition in patients with brain cancer who experience functional learning and memory loss often associated with radiation treatment, according to a laboratory study published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Charles Limoli, Ph.D., a professor in the department of radiation oncology at the University of California, Irvine, said radiation therapy is the standard of care for most brain cancers, but the side effects can be devastating.

"In almost every instance, people experience severe cognitive impairment that is progressive, debilitating and adversely impacts quality of life," he said. "Pediatric cancer patients can experience a drop of up to three IQ points per year."

In the current study, Limoli and colleagues subjected rats to cranial irradiation and followed up two days later with human neural stem cell transplants. A significant proportion of these cells survived and turned into brain cells found at one- and four-month evaluations. Cognitive function significantly improved compared with control rats.

Limoli said the findings of this study were significant, and may help pave the way for a human safety trial to be conducted within a few years if appropriate funding can be secured. Neural stem cells like those used in this study do not present the same ethical questions as embryonic stem cells.

Source: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

Adult-Derived Stem Cells Could Pave The Way For New Treatment Of Diabetes

Stem cells from early embryos can be coaxed into becoming a diverse array of specialized cells to revive and repair different areas of the body. Therapies based on these stem cells have long been contemplated for the treatment of diabetes, but have been held back by medical and ethical drawbacks.

Now researchers at Tel Aviv University are capitalizing on the "memories" of stem cells generated from adult cells to bring new hope to sufferers of juvenile or type 1 diabetes, which affects three million people in the United States.

Prof. Shimon Efrat of TAU's Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, says these "induced pluripotent stem cells," derived from adult cells, represent an embryonic-like state. To some degree, he found, the cells retain a "memory" of what they once were - when created from pancreatic beta cells, the cells responsible for the production of insulin, these pluripotent cells prove more efficient than their embryonic counterparts in creating insulin-producing cells. Prof. Efrat says that this discovery promises to advance the development of cell replacement therapy for diabetics, possibly leading to an effective alternative to organ transplants.

His research, pursued with his PhD student Holger Russ and in collaboration with Prof. Nissim Benvenisty and Ori Bar-Nur from the Hebrew University, was recently published in the journal Cell Stem Cell.

Choosing adult over embryo

Diabetes is caused by the destruction of pancreatic beta cells, and the idea of using stem cells as a method of correcting this deficiency in diabetic patients is nothing new. Embryonic stem cells have been the preferred choice, since they can be easily grown in the lab in almost unlimited numbers, and can form any cell type in the body.

"But turning them into pancreatic beta cells is not an easy task," says Prof. Efrat, who notes that the process has remained inefficient despite a long struggle for improvement. Instead, he was inspired to test the efficiency of pluripotent stem cells that were derived from adult insulin-producing cells themselves.

"When generated from human beta cells, pluriponent stem cells maintain a 'memory' of their origins, in the proteins bound to their genes," says Prof. Efrat. As though receiving a prompt from their past life, the cells already have some understanding of their purpose, making them more efficient in generating beta cells.

Avoiding the transplant list

Today, diabetics can opt for an organ transplant to replace damaged pancreatic beta cells, but that is a long and arduous road, limited by a shortage of organ donors, and patients can wait years. Currently, Prof. Efrat notes, the ratio of donors to potential recipients is about one to 1,000. A better option is sorely needed, and stem cells present a viable hope for the future.

The discovery made by Prof. Efrat and his fellow researchers was licensed to a start-up company that promotes the research and development of technology of innovative treatments for diabetes.

Source:
George Hunka
American Friends of Tel Aviv University

Stem Cells Restore Cognitive Abilities Impaired By Brain Cancer Treatment

Human neural stem cells are capable of helping people regain learning and memory abilities lost due to radiation treatment for brain tumors, a UC Irvine study suggests.

Research with rats found that stem cells transplanted two days after cranial irradiation restored cognitive function, as measured in one- and four-month assessments. In contrast, irradiated rats not treated with stem cells showed no cognitive improvement.

"Our findings provide solid evidence that such cells can be used to reverse radiation-induced damage of healthy tissue in the brain," said Charles Limoli, a UCI radiation oncology professor.

Study results appear in the July 15 issue of Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Radiotherapy for brain tumors is limited by how well the surrounding tissue tolerates it. Patients receiving radiation at effective levels suffer varying degrees of learning and memory loss that can adversely affect their quality of life.

"In almost every instance, people experience severe cognitive impairment that's progressive and debilitating," Limoli said. "Pediatric cancer patients can experience a drop of up to three IQ points per year."

For the UCI study, multipotent human neural stem cells were transplanted into the brains of rats that had undergone radiation treatment. They migrated throughout the hippocampus - a region known for the growth of new neurons - and developed into brain cells.

Researchers assessed the rats one month and four months after transplantation, noting enhanced learning and memory abilities at both intervals.

Additionally, they found that transplanting as few as 100,000 human neural stem cells was sufficient to improve cognition after cranial irradiation. Of cells surviving the process, about 15 percent turned into new neurons, while another 45 percent became astrocytes and oligodendrocytes - cells that support cerebral neurons.

Most notably, Limoli said, he and his colleagues discovered that about 11 percent of the engrafted cells expressed a behaviorally induced marker of learning, indicating the functional integration of those cells into memory circuits in the hippocampus.

"This research suggests that stem cell therapies may one day be implemented in the clinic to provide relief to patients suffering from cognitive impairments incurred as a result of their cancer treatments," Limoli said. "While much work remains, a clinical trial analyzing the safety of such approaches may be possible within a few years, most likely with patients afflicted with glioblastoma multiforme, a particularly aggressive and deadly form of brain cancer."

Munjal Acharya, Lori-Ann Christie, Mary Lan and Erich Giedzinski of UCI and John Fike and Susanna Rosi of UC San Francisco contributed to the study, which was funded by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Source:
Tom Vasich
University of California - Irvine

5 Natural and Non-Natural Acne Treatments

At one point all of us have been trying to find ways on how to be completely acne-free. Here are some natural and not so natural acne treatments that are proven to be effective.



1. Witch Hazel Astringent



This astringent comes from the plant with the same name. It is widely spread from Nova Scotia in Canada down to Texas and Florida. Simply steam the twigs of this plant and voila! The extract you get from it serves as your astringent. Remember to cool it though. What’s good about this is that it occurs naturally and even the process it has undergone is all natural. You can be assured it is less harsh compared with commercially-produced astringents.



2. Commercially Produced Astringents



There is no doubt that astringents we can buy over-the-counter are also effective. There are lots of variants to choose from with additional ingredients that promote better skin. The only downside is it can be a little harsh because of the chemicals added to produce this formula. Use them with extra care as they can dry the skin.





3. All-Natural Treatments



Kitchen and acne are two enemies we may not be aware of. Scout your kitchen for stuff like oranges and lemons, fresh garlic and raw potatoes.



- Oranges and lemons just need to be squeezed on cotton balls. Apply the extract on affected areas and wash it after about 20 minutes.



- Fresh garlic is used much easier. Just remove its peeling and rub it on your face.



- As for raw potatoes, peel them and rub its flat surface on your face.



The natural extracts from these fruits and vegetables can help minimize the redness at the same time can clean the skin.



4. Oral Antibiotics



For severe cases, antibiotics are prescribed. These medications are orally taken to reduce the amount of bacteria inside and around skin follicles. They also decrease the exasperating chemicals that the white blood cells produce. Lastly, antibiotics diminish the concentration of the free fatty acids found in sebum, also creating an anti-inflammatory action. Consult your dermatologist for the right antibiotic and dosage.



Tetracycline is still the most commonly prescribed antibiotic for acne treatment. Most of this antibiotic should be taken on an empty stomach. Also, this shouldn’t be used by pregnant women and children under 9. Usually, the starting dose is initially 500 milligrams twice daily and is continuously taken until prescribed, or until a considerable dropping off of lesions is visible.



Erythromycin comes close second and can be prescribed to pregnant women. However, it can cause nausea and even upset stomach. Compared to tetracycline, which can only kill bacteria, Erythromycin has both anti-inflammatory and bacteria-killing properties. Also, this antibiotic needs to be taken in a food-filled tummy. You may discuss other possible antibiotics with your doctors regarding the effects and side-effects of each.



5. Topical Treatments

Externally applied creams are also proven effective for acne treatment. However, it results to drying and flaking but it is said to be the most effective treatment for severe acne. Benzoyl peroxide is one very common and effective topical acne treatment.

Smile Therapy

Smile Therapy

Research has shown that when you smile, your brain assumes you must be happy*.

The following exercise can be a good way to start the day, especially if you tend towards depression or are embarrassed about your smile:

1. Set the alarm on your computer calendar (PDA, iPod, alarm clock etc.) to give an alarm each morning.
2. When the alarm goes off, snooze it for one minute.
3. Practice the following simple meditation (preferably with eyes closed): - While inhaling, smile - While exhaling, relax deeply Feel free to try different smiles: mouth open or closed, a subtle hint of a smile, exaggerated smile, big and soulful, eyes crinkling, or just mentally imagine smiling.
4. When the alarm goes off again, continue with your day.

You can practice this exercise for longer periods if desired, but if you find yourself canceling the alarm because you can't spare five minutes, go back to the one-minute meditation. The cumulative value of doing this exercise over a long period of time is more important than how long you spend each morning.

You can also practice this exercise while driving to work (with eyes open, of course).

Decline in drug use linked to school programs

Kids & Drugs

School anti-drug programs deserve some of the credit for a downward trend in drug use among Pennsylvania middle and high school students, observers say.

Managers of two midstate drug and alcohol agencies said the findings of the 2007 Pennsylvania Youth Survey show the programs have merit. The survey, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, involved more than 16,000 students and found, in general, that more are saying "no" to drugs and alcohol. 

"Our school districts take a lead role," said Jack Carroll, executive director of the Cumberland-Perry Drug & Alcohol Commission. "These reports are an indication they are doing a pretty good job with that."

Jodi Wadel, director of the Franklin/Fulton county Drug & Alcohol Program, said education was a factor in the declines noted in the PAYS survey.

Green Tea

Green Tea

When compared with other types of beverages, tea was more beneficial. These drinks can prevent or help cure diseases like influenza mild to severe forms of cancer. Type of tea can also be selected according to individual taste.
Here are 27 kinds of green tea benefits based on various research results:

   1. Lowering cholesterol levels
   2. Lowering the risk of stroke
   3. Helping prevent the spread of HIV virus
   4. Helps the body fight the virus (such as influenza virus)
   5. Functioning as an anti-inflammatory throat
   6. Can inhibit nerve function impairment
   7. Preventing the emergence of allergies

Push Up

Push Up

This type of body that one is tricky. If at first glance, it seems trivial at all, just go up and lower body muscles aided by the hand. And if not done correctly, the benefits of push ups will not have much influence you know!
Tips for proper push ups are:
1. Rather wide hand position on the floor, and feet resting on the fingertips, so the body can be supported perfectly as possible.2. Exhale as you bend elbows and lower your shoulders to the elbow bending angle 90derajat.3. Then push the shoulders up with a sigh until the hand is straight, but make sure the position of the elbow is not too rigid to be easily bent back.
Try to do 2 sets with 10-12 repetitions per set of his times. Remember, do not straighten your elbows are too rigid. Keep your head aligned with your back (do not tilting your head forward) in order to remain neutral spine position. Push Up is useful to train the chest muscles, triceps and shoulder muscles.
Well, good luck!

Garra Rufa Fish Therapy

Gara Rufa

Maybe you've seen, when you were walking in one shopping center, there are crowds of people sitting at the foot relaxed and the people there are many small fish are gathered around their feet. Do not be surprised, because this is a fish therapy.

The fish used for fish therapy is Garra Rufa fish. Garra rufa fish live in rivers in the Middle East countries such as Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Iraq. Age 4 to 6 years with a maximum of 12 cm length turkey. However, fish used for therapy is still a small fish 3-6 months old, generally has a length of 1.5 to 2 cm. This fish can live in water with a temperature of 0 to 43 degrees Celsius. In Turkish society, a spa with this fish has been known since 200 years ago. However, this therapy is a new glow fish known in Asia, Europe and America since 2006. At the beginning of its discovery, this fish is thought to be carnivorous fish. At that time, when a group of people were on the river Kangal, Turkey, the fish are swarming at their feet. However, they do not find their feet hurt even they feel their bodies are fresher. That is, its very beginning so that the fish was finally identified as one therapy to cure diseases.

Principles of Therapy and Drug Addiction Treatment

Drug Treatmen

More than three decades of scientific research have yielded 13 fundamental principles that characterize effective drug abuse treatment. These principles are detailed in NIDA's Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide.

1.    No single treatment is appropriate for all individuals.

Matching treatment settings, interventions, and services to each patient's problems and needs is critical.

2.    Treatment needs to be readily available.

Treatment applicants can be lost if treatment is not immediately available or readily accessible.

Drinking Tea Healthier than White Water ?

A Cup of Tes

Drinking three or four cups of tea per day was as good as regular drinking water. Even by drinking tea, you will get extra benefits for health. Opinions community dietitian team leader Dr. Carrie Ruxton from Kings College London, England, is published in European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
The team also rejected the assumption has been that the tea can cause dehydration or lack of fluids. In fact, tea is also provided on the body's intake of fluids (rehydration) as well as white water, even tea can prevent heart disease and some cancers. Because tea contains flavonoidswhich is believed to promote health. These substances include antioxidant poly-phenol commonly found in some foods and plants, and is believed to be able to help prevent cell damage
"So, drink tea definitely better than drinking water. Water White to replace fluids. While tea contains antioxidants to replace fluids at the same time so that there are two advantages," said Dr. Ruxton.

Healthy Water Therapy

Water

Water

Water not only serves to quench the thirst. However, water is a very effective medicine to maintain healthy, clear your mind, and maintain balance in your body tissues. Did you know, most of the body consists of water and each cell consists mainly of water. 70% of your body consists of water. Water is used constantly in the process of life. Therefore, you should always fill your inventory.

However, many people who fail to meet the needs of his body will be water. If you are short of water, the cells will begin to draw water from the bloodstream. As a result, blood thickens, so the heart must work harder to pump blood and the body will begin to direct blood away from less vital areas. Dehydration may have occurred before you feel thirsty. This is a burden for the body because it will interfere with renal function in the blood and helps purify the body to release poison-toxic. In addition, water also increases metabolism and stimulates bowel function.

Green Tea, Benefits and antioxidants Amazing

These tips make it for the fans of tea, I happened to get from the mailing list.

Green Tea

 Green Tea is a beverage stretching age. Studies in Norway show that they are diligent at least a cup of tea a day can reduce mortality. Other research with human subjects of old age (elderly) in the Netherlands to produce findings that the risk of death from heart disease declines with the habit of drinking tea.

It also has proven itself in Chinese society that has more than 100 years of age. 'In Indonesia, the age of 50 years died is considered normal. Moreover, death due to degenerative disease. Tea is one way to prevent disease degeneracy.

History of the Chinese mention green tea (Camellia sinensis) began to be used as a beverage since 2700 BC in the dynasty of Emperor Shen Nung, but recorded in the ancient dictionary of 350 years before Christ. About 200 years before Christ in the book mentioned Chinese herbs nutritious tea leaves removes toxins from the body.

Drug

Heroin

 Stands for narcotic drugs and drug / dangerous materials. In addition to "drugs", another term that was introduced in particular by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia is a drug which stands for Narcotics, Psychotropic and Addictive Substance.
All of these terms, both "drugs" or drugs, referring to a group of substances that generally have a risk of addiction for its users. According to health experts is actually a psychotropic drug commonly used to anesthetize patients during surgery or going on drugs for certain diseases. But now the perception is misused due to the use of which has been outside the dose limits.

Effect

    * Stimulants, effects of drugs that can cause organs work like the heart and brain works faster than the work usually resulting in someone more powerful for a while, and tend to make a user more happy and excited for a while

    * Hallucinogens, the effects of drugs can cause if taken in certain doses can lead to so many people into her hallucinations to see a thing / object that does not exist / not real eg cocaine & LSD

Methadone Therapy for Drug Addicts

Methadone

Until now, there are several kinds of therapy for drug addicts. Some examples are the cold turkey (stopping abruptly), detoxification, and methadone therapy. But that proved more successful is the last of methadone maintenance therapy.

Methadone is a synthetic opiate that a party with heroin, codeine, and morphine. Opiates were first developed in Germany in 1945 as a painkiller. Furthermore, around the year 1960, for the first time that methadone is used for treatment programs to drug addicts in New York.

By following methadone therapy, does not mean necessarily drug addicts out of dependency. Why is that? Because methadone itself is a class of opiates, thus giving this drug is actually intended to replace the need for addicts to other opiates such as mix, morphine, etc..

Detoxification not a panacea Cure Drug Addiction

Detoxification

PARENTS who have children exposed to narcotics generally feel confused, so try to do a variety of ways to address them. One way is to eliminate the influence of narcotics in the body through the detoxification process. The problem is, after the "poison" was missing, whether the problem is completed? For temporary, may be said so. But without any further action is difficult to expect users of narcotics will be cured. One problem faced by addicts do not just physical problems, more importantly, psychological and social problems which require the handling quite a long time.According to Program Director Terracotta, Faisal N Afdhal, about the handling of victims of narcotics. He admitted that he was surprised about was the number of parents who really do not understand the handling of victims of narcotics.
"If a few years ago, I still can understand. But now even this is still a lot of parents who rely on healing with detoxification," he said. As if the detoxification is an elixir that can cure drug addiction.

Drug Treatment

Drugs Treatment

• Drug Treatment:
   1. Addiction treatment (detox)
   2. Treatment of infections
   3. Rehabilitation
   4. Independent training

• Drug Prevention:
   1. Strengthen faith
   2. Choosing a healthy social environment
   3. Good communication
   4. Avoid the entrance of drugs that cigarette

First Aid
First aid patients bathed with warm water, drink lots, eat nutritious foods in small amounts and often and diverted attention away from drugs. If not managed to rescue a doctor. Users must be convinced that withdrawal symptoms peak within 3-5 days and after 10 days will be lost.