Monday, 1 January 2018

Smileband Health issues


Botulism is an intoxication caused by ingestion or other exposure to a neurotoxin produced by the anaerobic, Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
Botulism is characterized by neurologic symptoms that may cause dysphagia, dry mouth, diplopia and dysarthria. Ptosis and descending, symmetrical paralysis are characteristic. The patient is usually mentally alert. Neurologic symptoms may be preceded or accompanied by mild GI disturbance such as constipation, vomiting, or diarrhea. Respiratory distress may occur if respiratory muscles become compromised.
Arizona usually sees 1-5 cases of botulism a year. Risk factors for cases in Arizona include IV drug use, consumption of canned food or consumption of prison wine, also known as "pruno."
Arizona 5 year median: 1 case
Transmission
Because C. botulinum forms spores, it can survive indefinitely under essentially any environmental condition.
Foodborne Botulism - Caused by ingestion of preformed toxin. Commonly implicated foods have been low acid, home-canned foods.
Wound Botulism - The toxin is produced in situ and disseminated in the blood from devitalized tissue where semi-anaerobic conditions are obtained. Often reported in drug users, especially injectors of “black-tar” heroin.
Inhalational Botulism - To date, the only human cases have been the result of inadvertent inhalation of toxin by laboratory workers. Toxin can be absorbed through the lung and it is believed that if botulinum toxin were to be used as a bioweapon, it would be by this route.

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Bacillus anthracis and anthrax

Bacillus anthracis is a Gram-positive, rod-shaped, spore-forming bacterium, and is the causative agent of anthrax, an acute, rapidly progressing infectious disease that affects both animals and humans. B. anthracisforms spores after the death of infected hosts. The spores can remain dormant for many years in soil and begin to grow again and secrete toxins after gaining entry into susceptible hosts. The B. anthracis spore, the infectious form of the pathogen, has long been considered as a potential warfare agent and has been a top bioterrorism concern since the 2001 anthrax attacks in the USA   

A Lethal Combination

Anthrax is caused by an unusually large bacterium, Bacillus anthracis. Once its spores lodge in the skin or in the lungs, it rapidly begins growth and produces a deadly three-part toxin. These toxins are designed for maximum lethality, and are frighteningly effective. Part of the toxin is a delivery mechanism that seeks out cells; another part is a toxic enzyme that rapidly kills the cell. In anthrax toxin, there is one delivery molecule, termed "protective antigen" because of its use in anthrax vaccines.   

Keeping Deadly Company

These types of multiple-part toxins are quite common in the bacterial world because they are exquisitely effective. Many other examples, such as toxins from the bacteria that cause cholera and whooping cough, may be found in the PDB. The delivery component specifically seeks out cell surfaces and inserts the toxic component where it can do the most damage. The toxic component is far more effective than poisons like cyanide and arsenic. Those poisons attack one-on-one, with a single cyanide molecule poisoning a single protein molecule. But toxic enzymes are compact cell-killing machines. Once inside the cell, they hop from molecule to molecule, destroying each in turn. These molecules are so effective that in some cases a single molecule can kill an entire cell.

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NHS England has written to all GPs warning that the vaccine has ‘showed no significant effectiveness in this group over recent seasons’.
From next autumn, family doctors should instead adopt an injection used by other European countries for the last 20 years, but which will not be available in Britain until the 2018-19 flu season.
Until then the elderly will have to make do with the current vaccine – and experts last night stressed that they should carry on receiving it as it is the best defence available. Some 70 per cent of pensioners, who are eligible for the jab on the NHS, have already had the current vaccine so far this winter. The new jab, called Fluad, is particularly effective against a strain which is especially dangerous to the elderly called H3N2, also known as Aussie flu. 
Trials have shown the £9.79 vaccine triggers a 61 per cent bigger immune response to this strain in over-65s than other vaccines.
It is also more effective against the other common strain, H1N1, with a 40 per cent bigger immune response.
Fluad has been available in Europe since August 1997, but only received a UK licence in August after British regulators retested its safety.
In October the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the Government, recommended it replace the existing vaccine for the elderly. The minutes of its meeting said of Fluad: ‘In a study undertaken in an elderly population ... [it] showed a highly significant effectiveness and relative effectiveness compared with [the current vaccine] which showed no effectiveness.’

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Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer. Despite the broad range of treatment options available and all the recent advances in medical technology, the five year survival rate for those diagnosed early is only 8% and this drops to 3% for those diagnosed at an advanced stage. This type of cancer is difficult to diagnose and is often overlooked, usually discovered when it’s advanced to a virtually incurable stage.
So what is pancreatic cancer? Like all cancers, it begins when normal cells mutate and stop their normal functioning. They begin to grow at an uncontrollable rate and start taking nutrients and oxygen from the body, acting independently of the rest of the body and avoiding the usual mechanisms the body uses to maintain health. As the number of cancerous cells increase, they form tumors that can eventually spread to other parts of the body. When pancreatic tumors advance to a large enough size, they begin to impact the function of other organs. This can result in digestive problems as the stomach begins to produce too much acid, as well as issues with the liver and bile production.
Due to the fact that pancreatic cancer is so difficult to diagnose, it makes sense to know the signs and symptoms to help with early detection if you or your loved ones are unfortunate enough to encounter this severe disease. Remember, the key to maintaining a healthy body is not only exercise and nutrition, but making sure you pay attention to what your body is telling you on a day-to-day basis. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult with a physician. 

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Dengue is caused by the four serotypes of dengue virus (1-4). An infection with one of the serotypes does not protect an individual against the other serotypes and multiple infections of dengue virus can put individuals at greater risk for dengue hemorrhagic fever.
The symptoms of dengue fever are:
  • high fever
  • severe headache
  • joint pain
  • rash
  • mild bleeding
Dengue hemorrhagic fever includes a fever for 2-7 days followed by the capillaries in the body being permeable and causing leakage. This can lead to shock and possibly death.
Dengue is endemic in 100 countries in Asia, the Pacific, the Americas, Africa, and the Caribbean including parts of Mexico. Arizona has only had travel-associated dengue cases.
Arizona 5 year median: 14 cases
Transmission
Transmission occurs when an infected Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquito bites an individual. 
Transmission can also occur from blood transfusions or organ donation from an infected individual. 

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Ebola virus disease is a serious, often fatal condition in humans and nonhuman primates. Ebola is one of several viral hemorrhagic fevers, caused by infection with a virus of the Filoviridae family, genus Ebolavirus.
The fatality rates of Ebola vary depending on the strain. For example, Ebola-Zaire can have a fatality rate of up to 90 percent while Ebola-Reston has never caused a fatality in humans.
The infection is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, body fluids, and tissues of infected animals or people. Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. Ebola virus disease (EVD) is often characterized by the abrupt onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat.  Ebola tends to spread quickly through families and friends as they are exposed to infectious secretions when caring for an ill individual. The time interval from infection with Ebola to the onset of symptoms ranges from 2-21 days. 

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Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that can infect almost anyone. Once infected, your body retains the virus for life. Most people don't know they have CMV because it rarely causes problems in healthy people.
But if you're pregnant or have a weakened immune system, CMV is cause for concern. A woman who develops an active CMV infection during pregnancy can pass the virus to her baby, who might then experience signs and symptoms. For people with compromised immunity, especially due to organ transplantation, CMV infection can be fatal. CMV spreads from person to person through body fluids, such as blood, saliva, urine, semen and breast milk. There's no cure for the virus. However, medications can help treat newborns and people with weak immune systems.

Symptoms

Most people infected with CMV who are otherwise healthy experience few if any signs and symptoms. People at greater risk of signs and symptoms of CMV include:
  • Newborns infected with CMV before birth (congenital CMV).
  • Infants who become infected during birth or shortly afterward (perinatal CMV). This group includes babies infected through breast milk.
  • People with weakened immune systems, for example due to organ transplant or HIV infection.

Babies

Most babies with congenital CMV appear healthy at birth.
A few babies with congenital CMV who appear healthy at birth can develop signs over time — sometimes not for months or years after birth. The most common of these late-occurring signs are hearing loss and developmental delay. A small number of babies may also develop vision problems.
Babies with congenital CMV who are sick at birth tend to have significant signs and symptoms, including:
  • Premature birth
  • Low birth weight
  • Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice)
  • Enlarged and poorly functioning liver
  • Purple skin splotches or a rash or both
  • Abnormally small head (microencephaly)
  • Enlarged spleen
  • Pneumonia
  • Seizures

People with weakened immunity

If your immune system is weakened, you might experience more-serious signs and symptoms affecting your:
  • Eyes
  • Lungs
  • Liver
  • Esophagus
  • Stomach
  • Intestines
  • Brain

Otherwise healthy adults

Most people infected with CMV who are otherwise healthy experience few if any signs or symptoms. When first infected, some adults may have symptoms similar to infectious mononucleosis, including:
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Muscle aches
CMV mononucleosis is less likely than infectious mononucleosis to cause enlarged lymph nodes and spleen.

Sunday, 31 December 2017

Smileband Health issues



Symptoms

  • Most people infected with chikungunya virus will develop some symptoms.
  • Symptoms usually begin 3–7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
  • The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain.
  • Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.
  • Chikungunya disease does not often result in death, but the symptoms can be severe and disabling.
  • Most patients feel better within a week. In some people, the joint pain may persist for months.
  • People at risk for more severe disease include newborns infected around the time of birth, older adults (≥65 years), and people with medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease.
  • Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections.  

    Treatment

    • There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat chikungunya virus.
    • Treat the symptoms:
      • Get plenty of rest.
      • Drink fluids to prevent dehydration.
      • Take medicine such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or paracetamol to reduce fever and pain.
      • Do not take aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS until dengue can be ruled out to reduce the risk of bleeding).
      • If you are taking medicine for another medical condition, talk to your healthcare provider before taking additional medication 

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Adenoviruses can cause a wide range of illnesses such as
  • Common cold
  • Sore throat
  • Bronchitis (a condition that occurs when the airways in the lungs become filled with mucus and may spasm, which causes a person to cough and have shortness of breath)
  • Pneumonia (infection of the lungs)
  • Diarrhea
  • Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
  • Fever
  • Bladder inflammation or infection
  • Inflammation of stomach and intestines (gastroenteritis)
  • Neurologic disease (conditions that affect the brain and spinal cord)
Adenoviruses rarely cause serious illness or death. However, infants and people with weakened immune systems, or existing respiratory or cardiac disease, are at higher risk of developing severe illness from an adenovirus infection.  Adenoviruses are a group of viruses that can infect the membranes (tissue linings) of the respiratory tract, eyes, intestines, urinary tract, and nervous system. They account for about 10% of fever-related illnesses and acute respiratory infections in kids and are a frequent cause of diarrhoea. Adenoviral infections affect babies and young children much more often than adults. Childcare centers and schools sometimes have multiple cases of respiratory infections and diarrhea caused by adenovirus.
Adenoviral infections can occur at any time of the year, but:
  • respiratory tract problems caused by adenovirus are more common in late winter, spring, and early summer
  • conjunctivitis (pinkeye) and pharyngoconjunctival fever caused by adenovirus tend to affect older kids, mostly in the summer
Adenoviral infections can affect children of any age, but most occur in the first years of life — and most kids have had at least one before age 10. There are many different types of adenoviruses, so some kids can have repeated adenoviral infections.

Signs and Symptoms

Depending on which part of the body is affected, the signs and symptoms of adenoviral infections vary:

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Dear smileband viewers, 

Indeed, even a good ways off, clearly something didn't add up about the fertilizer heap behind one of Brad Moline's long white stables. Moline, 37, tops six feet, yet the heap overshadowed him.

 It was 30 feet wide and 100 feet in length, and the fertilizer was brittle and rich. Be that as it may, its inclining sides were studded with bones.
There were seven different heaps like this on the Moline family ranch, in northwest Iowa, enough to fill three football fields up to the principal column of seats. 

Dyed pelvic peaks and the bumpy finishes of shins jabbed up from the humus close by a whole wishbone. They were everything that was left of the 56,000 turkeys that Moline and his more established sibling, Award, and their dad, John, were raising last May, when avian flu showed up on their ranch. 

At the point when they hit the sack one evening, their turkeys were sound; the following morning, very nearly 100 were dead and hundreds more were panting for breath. 

Large number of birds kicked the bucket in days.
"I'd never seen anything like it," Moline said when I visited him last October. "My dad, who is 70 years of age, he'd never seen anything like it, and a few more established family members that have been around this region for quite a while, they'd seen nothing like it. It moved through the homestead like an out of control train. 

The Molines had been fearing seasonal influenza for a really long time, watching it advance across the state and trusting their confined area, outside a humble community called Manson, would ward the sickness off. All things being equal, following requests from the US Branch of Horticulture, the family was expected to kill every one of their birds, even those that were not showing side effects, forfeiting them as a firebreak to hold the infection back from spreading. 

They stacked the a great many corpses in 200-foot windrows of wood shavings and straw so the intensity of rot would consume the infection with extreme heat. 

They turned the heaps with work vehicles, scoured and hazed and broadcasted their stables, turned the heaps once more, cleaned the vacant structures to look at for disease and held up long stretches of isolation to procure an all-unmistakable from the U.S.D.A. furthermore, the state's Farming Division.

Iowa was the most awful hit state in the episode, and the Molines' ranch was the first permitted to restock once it was finished. 

At the point when I visited, there were 28,800 turkeys in four of their horse shelters — 11-week-old birds, reedy and at the midpoint of their lives — and another 28,000 fresh debuts twittering in the brooder stable, where they spend their initial not many weeks. 

Maybe the staggering influenza had never been there — with the exception of the additional manure, however much they would have amassed in 10 years of ordinary cultivating. It has been a year since the bird influenza tore through the Midwest: enough time for destroyed homesteads to cash their repayment checks and start purchasing substitution birds; at the discount cost of eggs, which multiplied, to slide back to ordinary; for public consciousness of the episode, the most horrendously terrible creature sickness scourge in US history, to scatter. 

Be that as it may, among the poultry ranchers who persevered through this season's virus, and others observing somewhere else in the country, there is an unavoidable disquiet, on the grounds that following a time of examination, government scholastic researchers actually can't say without a doubt the way in which their properties became tainted. 

In spite of their own endeavors to solidify their protections, and new government intends to help them, it is conceivable that poultry ranchers are not prepared for this season's virus to return among the US's billions of chickens; and that farmers and pork makers may be similarly ill-equipped assuming a new sickness exploded among the country's 92 million meat and dairy cows or 68 million pigs. 

Making arrangements for pestilences, creature or human, is generally founded on what an illness did the last time. It is substantially more challenging to foresee what an infection will do straightaway.

Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley 

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