What Is AIDS-Related Lymphoma?

The lymph system is made up of thin tubes that branch, like blood vessels, into all parts of the body. Lymph vessels carry lymph, a colorless, watery fluid that contains white blood cells called lymphocytes. Along the network of vessels are groups of small, bean-shaped organs called lymph nodes. Clusters of lymph nodes make and store infection-fighting cells.

The spleen (an organ in the upper abdomen that makes lymphocytes and filters old blood cells from the blood), the thymus (a small organ beneath the breastbone), and the tonsils (an organ in the throat), are also part of the lymph system.

Because there is lymph tissue in many parts of the body, the cancer can spread to almost any of the body’s organs or tissues including the liver, bone marrow (the spongy tissue inside the large bones of the body that makes blood cells), spleen, or brain.

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What is Adrenocortical Carcinoma?

There are two adrenal glands, one above each kidney in the back of the upper abdomen. Each adrenal gland is composed of two layers:

• The adrenal cortex, or outer layer of the adrenal gland, which produces a variety of steroid hormones;
• The adrenal medulla, or inner layer of the adrenal gland, which produces the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine.

Cancer of the adrenal cortex, also called adrenocortical carcinoma, is discussed below. (Cancer of the adrenal medulla, also called pheochromocytoma, is discussed separately.)

The cells in the adrenal cortex make important hormones that help the body function properly. When cells in the adrenal cortex become cancerous, they may make too much of one or more hormones, which can cause symptoms such as high blood pressure, weakening of the bones, or diabetes. Cancers that make hormones are called functioning tumors. However, many cancers of the adrenal cortex do not make extra hormones and are called nonfunctioning tumors.

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Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a disease in which cancerous cells develop in the blood and bone marrow. AML is also called acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.

Bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside the large bones in the body. Bone marrow cells are produced by immature immortal stem cells. These stem cells produce slightly more mature cells called blasts that develop (mature) into the following types of blood cells that have specific jobs to do in the body:

• Red blood cells carry oxygen and other materials to all tissues of the body.
• White blood cells fight infection.
• Platelets make the blood clot.

Adult acute myeloid leukemia affects the blasts that are developing into white blood cells called granulocytes. In adult acute myeloid leukemia, the blasts do not mature and become too numerous. These immature blast cells are then found in the blood and the bone marrow.

The disease progresses quickly, and treatment is different for adults than for children.

Source: Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia
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Stress Reduction

We all have stress just getting up in the morning. In the past we’ve written about the importance of taking the edge off of yours. This month we’re going to tell you why and how because exercise and relaxation are an integral part of the program to relieve stress. Just meditating can help you to clear your mind for problem solving. In people with diabetes, the fight-flight reaction does not work well. Insulin is not always able to let extra energy into the cells, so glucose builds up in the blood. In people with diabetes, stress can alter the blood glucose levels in two ways. First, people under stress may not take are of themselves. They may drink more and exercise less. They may forget or feel they do not have time to check blood glucose levels or plan for healthy meals. Second, stress can change blood glucose levels directly.

Scientists have studied the effects of stress on glucose levels in both animals and people. Diabetic mice have elevated glucose levels when under physical or mental stress. The effects in people with type 1 diabetes indicate that glucose levels may go up as they do in the majority of people, but they can also go down in some. In type 2 diabetes, stress often raises blood glucose levels.

Relaxation is not a substitute for exercise; it is an adjunct which will allow you to feel better all day long. In fact relaxation includes brief or quick relaxation, a stress walk and then the longer relaxation techniques as well as deep breathing. Try the ones that appeal to you. You won’t be unhappy. The best thing about learning to relax is that you can take these techniques with you wherever you go. Some are quick and some take a bit more time. Let’s look at some of these.

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Related website: Askmeditation.com
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Exercise: Test for Body Fitness

These standard tests are routinely given by the YMCA around the country and the American College of Sports Medicine to measure fitness. They are then used with the results of other tests to determine where to start a physical fitness program. Now remember, this is not a test you can study for. It is not a high school gym class with a teacher who holds your future in her hands and who could destroy or make your day with a word about how you look. As a diabetic, though, you will need to be honest with yourself before you start. If you have not been exercising and if you have medical conditions that may impede your ability to exercise, do not try some of this. Also, please contact your health care team about wanting to take this test. Make sure you are in control of your diabetes before any exercise , especially if your blood glucose levels are very high. If you have concerns, take the test at a health club with professionals present to help you if you need medical intervention.

Cardiovascular Health
Aerobic exercise, such as running, walking, swimming and cycling are important because they improve the efficiency of pumping blood to the heart, picking up oxygen in the lungs, and the unloading of oxygen into body tissue. These systems allow your working muscles to get oxygen more quickly and efficiently. Studies have shown that regular cardiovascular exercise can significantly reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.

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Traditional Treatments for Back Pain

When Dorothy followed the yellow brick road, she was told to do so by those who wanted her to get where she wanted go. Well as humans when we blindly follow recommendations even by individuals who have good intentions, it may not always be your best option. So I’m preparing this article to compare and contrast what are known as traditional treatments vs. complementary or alternative treatments for back pain. Remember there is rarely only one reason for your back pain and almost never one silver bullet fix… you may need to try several approaches till you find what works for you.

So when reading this article and thinking back on your visits to medical professionals, did you have the big picture or were you just following that yellow brick road? If you have been down that road, or if you are just starting to suffer from back pain it’s never too late to seek out new and more encompassing information about your condition when trying to find a solution that works for you. Don’t say you’ve tried everything because you haven’t… your solution is out there and you just have to find it!....

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Calcium and Health

A popular mineral today, coral calcium , is mainly calcium, but is also abundant in many trace sea minerals. Some people consider coral calcium to be nature’s purest calcium supplement. Harvested from sea marine coral in Okinawa, Japan, coral calcium has been consumed by Okinawan’s for many, many years.

As with many mineral products, coral calcium is not without its ardent admirers, who make all kinds of fantastic claims regarding the benefits of taking coral calcium. Keep in mind that calcium is a mineral that our bodies need for muscle movement and to keep the heart and bones healthy. While coral calcium is a good source for mineral calcium, it should not be considered as a panacea for all illnesses..

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Coffee, Caffeine & Fitness

One look at a line at the local Starbucks in the morning and you don’t need to be convinced of the huge amount of coffee consumption in the U.S. The National Coffee Association found in 2000 that 54% of the U.S. adult population drinks coffee daily. Guess there’s nothing like the first double espresso in the morning to clear the cobwebs from our heads so we can face the day.

But what are the effects relating to fitness ? If that grande-no-foam-double-whipped-extra-shot-no-fat latte gives us the get-up-and-go to start our day at work, will it do the same if we’re headed to the gym?

Physiological Effects

The main ingredient in coffee that gives us that jolt is caffeine , a central nervous system stimulant. Caffeine is found naturally in coffee beans, tea leaves, and chocolate, and is a popular added ingredient in carbonated beverages and some over-the-counter medications such as cold remedies, diuretics, aspirin, and weight control aids. It is estimated that in the U.S., 75% of caffeine intake comes from coffee .

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system by blocking adenosine, a neurotransmitter that normally causes a calming effect in the body. The resulting neural stimulation due to this blockage causes the adrenal glands to release adrenaline, the ‘fight or flight’ hormone. Your heart rate increases, your pupils dilate, your muscles tighten up, and glucose is released into your blood stream for extra energy. Voila… you now have the caffeine buzz. But wait…we’re not done yet. Caffeine also increases dopamine. Dopamine activates the pleasure in parts of the brain. It has been suspected that this also contributes to caffeine addiction. Physiologically, caffeine makes us you feel alert, pumps adrenaline to give you energy and changes dopamine production to make you feel good. Another espresso, anyone?

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The Effects of Diet on Infertiltiy

Overwhelmed by studies, research and the constantly changing diet, nutrition and food recommendations? With so many conflicting opinions and studies it’s a full time job trying to keep up with the do’s and don’ts.

Here are… not just five, but six… of the top basic lifestyle changes that Cynthia Stadd, Director of Nutrition Services at The Berkley Center, recommends to proactively promote and prepare your body for conception and a remarkable family life!

Greatly reduce or eliminate caffeine and coffee altogether. It is a vasoconstrictor which can impede blood flow.

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Build Health: Cut Through The Calcium Hype

The initial success of penicillin generated an assumption which has stuck with us as a cultural belief in the Quick Technological Fix. That assumption is:

A single variable can be divided out from all other variables, tested for its result, and it will prevent or promote disease.

Most people have come to believe nutrition is divisible, and that a single substance will maintain vibrant health. The touting of calcium for the degenerative disease osteoporosis provides an excellent example.

Every day the media, acting as proxy for the milk lobby, sells calcium as a magic bullet. Has it worked? Definitely for sales of milk; but for American health it has been a disaster.

Full article here.

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Relationship between Diabetes and Cholesterol

If you have diabetes, you’re more likely to have more cholesterol abnormalities — which contributes to cardiovascular disease. Managing your cholesterol, and especially lowering LDL cholesterol, reduces your chance of cardiovascular disease and death. In fact, a person with diabetes who lowers his LDL cholesterol can reduce the risk of having a heart attack by up to 42 percent.

How do I know my cholesterol numbers?
A lipid profile is a measure of different kinds of fats in your blood. Your healthcare provider determines your lipid profile based on your total cholesterol, LDL (”bad”) cholesterol, HDL (”good”) cholesterol and triglyceride (blood fats) levels

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6 Ways to Avoid Dying of a Surprise Heart Attack

The facts are scary: Despite the progress made against heart disease in the past several decades, almost half the people who die suddenly from a heart attack or other cardiac problem have no prior symptoms. Even knowing someone’s risk factors for heart disease, it’s often tough to pinpoint who will actually go on to get the disease. And once blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked and a heart attack happens, it’s not exactly clear why some people experience sudden cardiac arrest, which killed Meet the Press host Tim Russert last week, and others don’t.

Those uncertainties, however, don’t mean that you are powerless to protect yourself from dying of a heart attack. Here are steps to take to improve your odds:....

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Menstrual Disorders

Anything that interferes with the normal menstrual cycle, causing pain, unusually heavy or light bleeding, or missed periods.

Description
Typically, a woman of childbearing age should menstruate every 28 days or so unless she’s pregnant or moving into menopause. But numerous things can wrong with the normal menstrual cycle, some the result of physical causes, others emotional. These include amenorrhea, or the cessation of menstruation, menorrhagia, or heavy bleeding, and dysmenorrhea, or severe menstrual cramps. Nearly every woman will experience one or more of these menstrual irregularities at some time in her life.

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New Treatment for Skin Cancer

An Oregon man, given less than a year to live, had a complete remission of advanced deadly skin cancer after an experimental treatment that revved up his immune system to fight the tumors .

The 52-year-old patient’s dramatic turnaround was the only success in a small study, leading doctors to be cautious in their enthusiasm. However, the treatment reported in Thursday’s issue of the New England Journal of Medicine is being counted as the latest in a small series of successes involving immune-priming treatments against deadly skin cancers.

"Immunotherapy has become the most promising approach" to late-stage, death-sentence skin cancers, said Dr. Darrell Rigel, a dermatology researcher at the New York University Cancer Institute in New York who had no role in the research.

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Heart Risks Emerging in People With HIV

Drugs that suppress HIV are keeping infected individuals alive and relatively healthy for years, even decades. But studies suggest that a new health risk is emerging for these long-term survivors: increased odds for heart attack and stroke .

It’s not clear whether the cause is the virus itself or the drugs used to treat it, said Dr. Steven Grinspoon, professor of medicine at Harvard University.

The exact cause of heightened heart risk among HIV patients "may not be just one or the other," he said. "Both may act, in different ways. The drugs may be causing metabolic problems such as dyslipidemia in the traditional way, while the virus can cause inflammation, which is a known factor in atherosclerosis."

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Insomnia - Sleep Disorder

Millions of people all over the world suffer from some kind of sleep disorder, and it begins to slowly affect their lives, even if they are not necessarily consciously aware of it. If you suffer from insomnia , know that you are not alone, but what you also should realize is that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
There are many people who have found ways to change their sleeping habits well enough to make it a regular part of their lives. In doing so, they have overcome night time restlessness in order to be considered ex-insomniacs. And two of them share their secrets with you:
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Georgia is thirty-seven years old, an elementary school teacher, and a mother of two. Her main problem is that she is overworked, and on top of that, she has to bring her work home with her so she can correct papers and average grades.

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How to Remove Cellulite Without Surgery

Cellulite is a term used to describe the chain of wrinkled fat cells and subcutaneous connective tissue beneath the skin and which seems to be more prevalent in women than men; the thighs and buttocks might be the main areas that experience this but it can actually be found anywhere.

This is not a situation purely confined to those who carry excess weight; the lumpy substance that looks more like cottage cheese beneath the skin can affect slim, even sporting women as well.

Fat beneath the surface of the skin pushes against connective tissue causing it to give that dimpled look commonly known as cellulite. After many years of research, scientists still cannot determine the exact reason for its formation or why some are affected more than others but there may be some connection between toxins that enter the body and how certain fat cells store them.

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Relationship Between Diabetes and Depression

The relationship between diabetes and depression apparently cuts both ways: Not only are people with treated type 2 diabetes at a heightened risk for developing depression, individuals with depression are also at risk for developing diabetes.

The research revelation suggests that both doctors and patients need to be more aware of the dual risks.

"Doctors should have their sensitivity increased toward picking up on the potential for more of their diabetes patients and more of their depression patients having susceptibility to the other disorder," said Dr. Stuart Weiss, assistant clinical professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine.

Type 2 diabetes and clinical depression tend to go hand in hand, the study authors said, although the question has been, which comes first?

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Flavoring Food May Promote Weight Loss

Boosting the flavor of your food with calorie-free seasonings and sweeteners may help you feel fuller faster and decrease the amount you eat, according to a U.S. study that suggests this may be a new way to help people lose weight.

The study of "tastants" — substances that can stimulate the sense of taste — included 2,436 overweight or obese people who were asked to sprinkle a variety of savory or sweet crystals on their food before eating their meals. They used the salt-free savory crystals on salty foods and used the sugar-free sweet crystals on sweet or neutral-tasting foods. The participants didn’t know what the flavors of the crystals were, other than salty or sweet. The hidden flavors of the savory tastants were cheddar cheese, onion, horseradish, ranch dressing, taco, and parmesan. The flavors of the sweet tastants were cocoa, spearmint, banana, strawberry, raspberry and malt.

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Study finds weight-loss surgery cuts cancer risk

Morbidly obese patients who undergo weight-loss surgery greatly reduce their risk of cancer, according to a study providing fresh evidence of health benefits from these increasingly common operations.

Researchers from McGill University in Montreal found that the people who underwent bariatric surgery saw reductions in particular in the risk for breast and colon cancer . Many people see dramatic weight loss after such surgery.

People who are deemed morbidly obese typically are at least 100 pounds (45 kg) overweight. The researchers tracked 1,035 such patients who had bariatric surgery for five years. They also monitored 5,746 patients who matched the surgery group in age, sex and weight but did not have this surgery.

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Big, Well-Balanced Breakfast Aids Weight Loss

Starting your day with a large meal packed with both carbohydrates and lean protein, and even a small piece of chocolate, can help lessen cravings and hunger the rest of the day, which can lead to significant weight loss, new research suggests.

Presented at this week’s Endocrine Society annual meeting, in San Francisco, the new research found that sedentary, obese women lost almost five times as much weight on the "big breakfast" diet as did women following a traditional, restrictive low-carbohydrate diet.

"We treat obese people by telling them to eat less and exercise more, but that does not take into account feelings of carb cravings and hunger. We have to change our approach and find a diet that can control cravings and hunger," said the study’s lead author, Dr. Daniela Jakubowicz, a clinical professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and an endocrinologist at the Hospital de Clinicas Caracas in Venezuela.

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Immune-Boosting Lung Cancer Therapy Shows Promise

An immune-boosting treatment for lung cancer patients reduces the risk of cancer relapse after surgery to the same extent as chemotherapy but without the risk of unpleasant side effects, says a Phase II study by Belgian researchers.

The study included 182 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, the most common form of the disease. All the patients had surgery to remove their cancer and were then randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or MAGE-A3 ASCI (antigen-specific cancer immunotherapeutic) injections over 27 months — five given at three-week intervals, followed by eight given once every three months.

MAGE-A3 is a tumor-specific antigen produced in 35 percent to 50 percent of non-small-cell lung cancer. It’s not produced by normal cells

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Acne Home Remedies

You don’t have to look beyond the comfort of your own home to treat acne problems. Your very own kitchen is a rich source of acne busters. Listed below are 10 of the best acne home remedies that have been tested and proven effective by people.

1. A simple way to bring down the swelling of acne is to put ice on it. Ice not only reduces inflammation, but also shrinks the size of pores. Gently rub some ice on the face before going to bed.

2. The humble potato is one of the best acne home remedies. Grate a potato and apply on the affected area for 30 minutes. Potatoes have amazing acne swelling reduction properties.

More, read full article here.

More tips about Acne Home Remedies can be found at:

• - Daily Beauty Tips: http://shebeauty.blogspot.com
• - Therapy, Health and Fitness http://www.asktherapy.com
• - Herbal Remedies: http://www.foodherbal.com
  

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Weight Loss After Gastric Bypass Is Key to Easing Diabetes

Weight loss plays a major role in improving diabetes after obese patients have stomach-reduction surgery, say Duke University Medical Center researchers.

Previous studies have suggested that gastric bypass surgery — which re-routes how food is sent from the stomach to the small intestine — helps improve diabetes by causing changes in the way hormones are secreted from the gut and pancreas .

But the metabolic effects shouldn’t overshadow the importance of losing weight after surgery , the Duke team said.

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Non-Surgical Approach Can Treat Lung Cancers

A minimally invasive procedure normally used to treat liver cancer also holds promise for lung cancer patients, according to a new study.

In the study, expected to be published in the July edition of The Lancet Oncology, 88 percent of lung cancer patients responded well to treatment with percutaneous image-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA). RFA is performed in less than an hour and is a non-surgical procedure that targets large tumors with no harm to surrounding healthy tissue. After one year, 70 percent of patients survived at least one year with few side effects; none that impaired lung function, the researchers report.

As alternative to surgery in difficult liver cancer patients, RFA has proven successful, with no negative effect on quality of life, and it requires only a short hospital stay.

Full Article here.

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Diabetes Might Help Spur Hearing Loss

Hearing impairment may be a common, under-recognized complication of diabetes , suggests a U.S. study. "We found that hearing loss was much more common in people with diabetes than people without the disease. The hearing loss we detected did not seem to be caused by other factors such as exposure to loud noises, certain medicines, and smoking ," lead researcher Kathleen E. Bainbridge said in a prepared statement.

She and her colleagues analyzed data from 5,140 people, ages 20 to 69, who completed a hearing test and a diabetes questionnaire as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2004.

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Blood Cancer Drug Shows Promise Against Lupus

A drug used to treat multiple myeloma, a cancer of the white blood cells, may also be a treatment for the chronic autoimmune disease lupus, German researchers report.

The drug, Velcade (bortezomib), which is a proteasome inhibitor, worked against the disease and prolonged survival in mice with lupus. The finding could one day offer treatment options for other antibody-associated diseases, too, the researchers said.

“Autoantibody-mediated diseases such as autoimmune hemolytic anemia, immune thrombocytopenia, myasthenia gravis and systemic lupus erythematosus are often difficult to treat,” said lead researcher Dr. Reinhard Voll, of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg.

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Study: Treating herpes doesn’t prevent HIV

Doctors have long suspected that people with herpes are more likely to catch HIV. So they thought that by treating herpes, they could also cut a person’s HIV risk. But a new study that tested this strategy found the assumption may have been wrong.

"It’s a significant, disappointing finding," Francis Ndowa, coordinator of the sexually transmitted infections control team at the World Health Organization, said in an interview.

Ndowa was not connected to the research, published Friday in the medical journal The Lancet.

The finding may spark a rethinking of HIV prevention strategies in Africa, where controlling sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes is usually part of general AIDS prevention plans.

More information available here

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Natural Way to Beat The Coming Flu and Cold

In the last year or so, have you experienced one or more bad colds, or possibly had a bout with the flu? Numerous people, some even in our own local area, have actually been laid up with pneumonia!

In the last three decades there have been several viral and bacterial epidemics—and this at a time when we should have been able to expect the eradication of many infectious diseases. Why is this? Why does it seem that in recent years, in spite of all the wonderful medical help available, that people are sicker than ever?

Some people say this is due to the overuse of too-potent antibiotics or it might be because of the widespread use of vaccines. Plus, with globalization and the increasing availability of long distance flights, it is easier for infections to be spread around the world. There are already a number of infectious organisms that can and will be a major problem to patients, physicians, health care workers and others throughout the world.

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10 Ways to Asthma Therapy

Your doctor can offer treatments and suggestions for managing asthma, but there are plenty of things you can do yourself as well. A doctor can prescribe medication to help, but prevention is really the best medicine.

Because asthma can be triggered by so many things, there are lots of ways you can decrease the chances of an attack. The following are 10 of the easiest ways:

Full Article:

http://www.asktherapy.com/atshma-therapy/

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