Smileband health topics

The definition of a psychopath and causes of psychopathy are sometimes argued about in scientific circles, but understanding the symptoms and signs of a psychopath is possible. Psychopathy causes may include genetics and early life factors and the signs and symptoms of a psychopath are typically noticeable before a psychopath's 16th birthday as these symptoms are thought to be fairly stable across the lifetime. Learn more about psychopathy below.

Definition of Psychopathy

The definition of psychopathy can be challenging as depending on the researcher, psychopathy is defined slightly differently and often many psychopaths  traits are taken into account. That said, a simple definition of psychopathy is provided by the Society for the Scientific Study of Psychopathy. Psychopathy is:

"A constellation of traits that comprises affective features, interpersonal features, as well as impulsive and antisocial behaviors. The affective features include lack of guilt, empathy, and deep emotional attachments to others; the interpersonal features include narcissism and superficial charm; and the impulsive and antisocial behaviors include dishonesty, manipulativeness, and reckless risk-taking. Although psychopathy is a risk factor for physical aggression, it is by no means synonymous with it. In contrast to individuals with psychotic disorders, most psychopaths are in touch with reality and seemingly rational. Psychopathic individuals are found at elevated rates in prisons and jails, but can be found in community settings as well. 

Causes of Psychopathy

No one knows exactly what causes psychopathy but it is likely a combination of genetics, environmental and interpersonal factors. For example, children of psychopaths are more likely to be psychopaths themselves, suggesting genetic influence.

Additionally, some early life experiences have been shown to increase the risks of becoming a psychopath. Poor parenting, parenting that focuses on punishment (rather than rewards) and inconsistent parenting appear to help cause psychopathy. Additional risk factors for psychopathy include:

• Substance abuse by the parents
• Separation from a parent or lack of parental involvement
• Child physical abuse or neglect

Signs and Symptoms of Psychopathy

The signs and symptoms of psychopathy are identified most commonly in scientific studies by Hare's 20-item Psychopathy Checklist-Revised. This checklist identifies the following as the symptoms and signs of psychopathy:

1. Superficial charm and glibness
2. Inflated sense of self-worth
3. Constant need for stimulation
4. Lying pathologically
5. Conning others; being manipulative
6. Lack of remorse or guilt
7. Shallow emotions
8. Callousness; lack of empathy
9. Using others (a parasitic lifestyle)
10. Poor control over behavior
11. Promiscuous sexual behavior
12. Behavioral problems early in life
13. Lack of realistic, long-term goals
14. Being impulsive
15. Being irresponsible
16. Blaming others and refusing to accept responsibility
17. Having several marital relationships
18. Delinquency when young
19. Revocation of conditional release
20. Criminal acts in several realms (criminal versatility)

Smileband general news

Overpopulation occurs when the population of the world reaches an undesirable number that exceeds its carrying capacity. Its concept originated in 1798 in England when Reverend Thomas Robert Malthus noticed that the production of food production had risen incrementally, while the population grew exponentially. Generally, it is caused by many factors, such as reduced mortality rates.

Now, overpopulation has become a subject of debates around the world, with opposing parties pushing strong beliefs. To build a good opinion about this matter, let us take a look at its facts and statistics.

Facts

According to records, the world population has already soared past 7 billion, and every second of the day, it is growing by 3 people. In 1960, the average life expectancy was 51, which increased to 69 in 2010, hastening population growth. At the current rate, the population of the least-developed countries is expected to double in the next 31 years. Overpopulation is said to have started to degrade the life quality for many, significantly depleting valuable natural resources that they need to thrive and survive. The most recent reports also show that about 783 million people, which are about 10% of the world population, are lacking access to quality drinking water. In the US, there are more than 1.43 million unplanned births happening every year. 

Statistics

1. When the agriculture era began about 8000 B.C., the world population was estimated to be 5 million, and after 8,000 years up to 1 A.D., it was said to had grown to 200 to 600 million, with a growth rate of under 0.05% per year, which was still an imprecise estimate considering that it was done during early historical periods.
2. During the industrial period, a big series of changes occurred where the world population reached one billion in 1800, two billion only after 130 years in 1930, three billion in less than 30 years in 1959, four billion in just 15 years in 1974 and five billion in only 13 years in 1987.
3. During the 20th century alone, the world population has grown from 1.65 billion to 6 billion. The yearly growth rate reached its peak at 2% and above in the late 1960s, but it almost halved in 1963.
4. Currently, such a rate has been declining and is expected to continue to drop in the coming years, becoming less than 1% by 2020 and less than 0.5% by 2050. This means that the population in the world continues to grow in the 21st century, but it will be at a slower rate compared with the recent past.
5. While it has doubled in four decades from three billion in 1959 to six billion in 1999, it is now estimated to take a further 39 years to grow by only 50% to nine billion by 2038.
6. As of August 2016, the total number of human beings currently living in the world is estimated at 7.4 billion, with a current growth rate of around 1.13% per year. As for the current average population change, it is estimated at around 80 million every year.

Smileband health topics

Rib cage pain may be sharp, dull, or achy and felt at or below the chest or above the navel on either side. It may occur after an obvious injury or without explanation.

Rib cage pain can be due to anything from pulled muscles to a rib fracture. This pain may occur immediately upon injury or develop slowly over time. It can also be a sign of an underlying medical condition, so you should report any instance of unexplainable rib cage pain to your doctor immediately.  

What causes rib cage pain?

The most common causes of rib cage pain are a pulled muscle or bruised ribs. Other causes of pain in the rib cage area are:

• broken ribs
• injuries to the chest
• rib fractures
• diseases that affect the bones, such as osteoporosis
• inflammation of the lining of the lungs
• muscle spasms
• inflamed rib cartilage 

  What causes rib cage pain?

  The most common causes of rib cage pain are a pulled muscle or bruised ribs. Other causes of pain in the rib cage area are:
  • broken ribs
  • injuries to the chest
  • rib fractures
  • diseases that affect the bones, such asosteoporosis
  • inflammation of the lining of the lungs
  • muscle spasms
  • inflamed rib cartilage  

    What are the treatment options for rib cage pain?

    The recommended treatment for rib cage pain depends on the cause of the pain. If the rib cage pain is due to a minor injury such as a pulled muscle or bruise you can use a cold compress on the area to reduce swelling. If you’re in significant pain, you can also take over-the-counter pain relievers such as  (Tylenol).
    If over-the-counter medicine doesn't relieve pain from an injury, your doctor can prescribe other medications. You may also receive a compression wrap A compression wrap is a large, elastic bandage that wraps around your chest. The compression  wrap holds the area tightly to prevent further injury and greater pain. However, these wraps are necessary in rare cases because the tightness of the compression wrap makes it difficult to breathe. This can increase your risk of pneumonia.

Smileband health topics

Liver Conditions - Overview

They are many different conditions that can affect the proper functioning of the liver. These are collectively known as hepatic diseases.

Most liver diseases initially present with very few symptoms. The liver is a resilient organ, able to function even when damaged and also to regenerate itself. This may explain why it’s believed that a great deal of liver disease remains undiagnosed in the population as a whole.

However, if liver disease is left untreated it can be fatal. Incidence of liver disease is growing and it is now estimated that it affects some two million people in the UK alone, where it is the fifth largest cause of death. It is therefore important to look after the liver and to seek advice from a doctor if you are concerned about your health.

Symptoms

Untreated liver disease tends to develop over time and generally progresses from initial inflammation (alcoholic hepatitis), to scarring, to irreparable liver damage (cirrhosis) and further complications which may then lead to liver failure or cancerous liver tumours.

Because of the way liver disease presents, with few early signs or symptoms, it may not be diagnosed until it is too late to repair successfully (ie, until liver cirrhosis is diagnosed) and when treatment options may be limited to saving just that part of the liver that is still functioning (resection), or by having a liver transplant.

Typical symptoms of liver disease include:

• Nausea, sometimes with vomiting
• Pain high up on the right side of the abdomen
• Jaundice
• Tiredness, weakness and weight loss

However, with a wide variety of liver disorders come a wide variety of symptoms.

Here we offer some insights into the liver disorders that consultants at The Princess Grace Hospital regularly test, diagnose and treat.

Most people will be aware of the damage that can be caused to the liver by alcohol abuse. However, this is only one of many causes that our consultants diagnose and treat. Others include:

• Viral or infective hepatitis A, B, C, D or E 
• Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH)
• Genetic conditions
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• Obstructive jaundice (cholestatic liver disease)
• Liver abscesses and cysts
• Liver tumours/cancer) including metastatic (secondary) liver tumours and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)

Initial diagnosis of liver disease is usually by way of a series of blood tests and/or urine samples which may be supported by the use of imaging/scanning technology (such as a fibroscan) or a biopsy where a small sample of the liver is removed for analysis. Sometimes liver disease is discovered almost by accident during an investigation of other conditions.

Smileband health topics

How Lung Infection Occurs

Pneumonia happens when bacteria, viruses, and less commonly fungi collect in a person's air sacs and begin to grow. The air sacs may become filled with pus and fluid, which can make breathing more difficult, cause chest pain, and lead to a cough that is different from a person's usual chronic cough associated with their disease.

The good news is that pneumonia may be prevented through proper hand washing and vaccinations.

If you or a loved one has COPD, a lung infection very well may occur at some point. While it's important to focus on preventing infection, you also want to be on top of one if signs and symptoms start to arise. In addition, it can be tricky sometimes to distinguish between a lung infection and a COPD flare.  

Symptoms of a Lung Infection 

Normal body temperature varies from person to person, but in general, it's around 98.6 F degrees. Having a fever—meaning a temperature at or higher than 100.4 F—is one sign that you may have a lung infection. With a fever, a person may also experience chills or shaking.  following signs and symptoms of lung infection should alert you to contact your doctor right away:  

Smileband health topics

What is a sore throat?

A sore throat is a painful, dry, or scratchy feeling in the throat.

Pain in the throat is one of the most common symptoms. It accounts for more than 13 million visits to doctor’s offices each year (1).

Most sore throats are caused by infections, or by environmental factors like dry air. Although a sore throat can be uncomfortable, it’ll usually go away on its own.

Sore throats are divided into types, based on the part of the throat they affect: pharyngeal affects the area right behind the mouth. tonsils is swelling and redness of the tonsils, the soft tissue in the back of the mouth.

• Laryngitis is swelling and redness of the voice box, or larynx.

Smileband general news

The incidence of childhood cancer increased through the second half of the twentieth century and continues to increase today.

We are currently funding more than 50 research projects at centres of excellence around the UK. These projects are investigating a broad range of childhood cancers – helping us to better understand these diseases and to find more effective, less toxic ways of treating them.

Take a look through the pages below to find out more about the research funded by Children with Cancer. 

FOR RESEARCHERS

Children with Cancer UK is one of the UK’s leading funders of research into childhood cancer.
We fund a broad variety of research aimed at improving our understanding of childhood cancer and improving the outlook for young patients.  

OUR CONFERENCES & WORKSHOPS

Through our regular conferences and workshops, we bring together stakeholders in childhood cancer treatment and research to exchange knowledge and ideas.
We aim to provide a forum for clinicians, scientists and other stakeholders to discuss and debate key themes, share knowledge and develop new collaborations. 

SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY PANEL

Our Scientific Advisory Panel
The members of our Scientific Advisory Panel freely give their time and expertise to drive forward research in our fight against childhood cancer. The Panel meets at least four times a year to assess research grant applications, discuss developments in the field and take forward new initiatives.
Research into childhood cancer is a broad field and we aim to reflect the diversity of the field amongst the membership of our Panel. Tenure on the Panel is for three years; this may be extended for a further period of up to three years by mutual agreement. At the end of the tenure period, a Panel member will be invited to become a Scientific Advisor.