Biomedical Laboratory Science

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Side Effects of Alzheimer's Gene Visible in Child Brain Development

Certain genes increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The side effects of the most common of these genes, apolipoprotein E, may be evident as early as in childhood, a study finds.

Genetic risks are just one of the factors that may increase or decrease a person's chances of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), along with age and family history.

While the symptoms of the rarer early-onset AD - representing less than 5 percent of people with the disease - can appear from the age of 30, the symptoms of the more common type, late-onset AD, is apparent over the age of 65.

This study, published in the online issue of Neurology, finds that the effects of the AD gene apolipoprotein E (APOE) may possibly be seen before the age of 20.

Studying genes in childhood that increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease may possibly
help experts develop ways of delaying the disease.

Source: medicalnewstoday

Tips on How Not to Blow Your Patients Vein

One of the major functions of a nurse is to insert IV lines on patients. This should be done perfectly but experienced nurses may still encounter or face problems like a blown vein. In order to minimize patient discomfort and overall productivity of a nurse, here are some useful tips to lessen or eliminate those errors.

Assess the veins– Look for a good vein by palpating the arm or area with your fingers. Choose the larger and straight vein as this will be able to accommodate large bore catheters.
Go for the correct size of the catheter– To be safe and avoid a blown small vein otherwise, use a small one. Gauge 22 is ideal for adult patients while gauges 22-26 catheters for pediatric patients.

Source: nursingguide

Saturday, July 16, 2016

MCQ 10. The glycoprotein hormones are a family of cystine rich proteins

MCQ 10. The glycoprotein hormones are a family of cystine rich proteins consisting of an alpha and beta subunit, and are characterized by their heavy glycosylation.

Which of the following is a glycoprotein hormone?

a. Cortisol

b. Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRG)

c. Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH)

d. Thyrotropin (TSH)

e. Oxytocin

Answers

Does Going to the Hospital Make You Sicker?

During a hospital stay, people usually hope to have a medical condition treated effectively so they can recover fully, go home and stay home. But it's not uncommon for a hospitalization to lead to a new health problem that's serious enough to require hospital readmission within 30 days.

The phenomenon, dubbed "post-hospital syndrome" by Dr. Harlan Krumholz, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, is roughly defined as an acquired, transient period of increased risk for illness after a hospital stay, one that leads to re-hospitalization.

You could find yourself back in the hospital – because of the hospital (Getty Images).

Source: msn/health&fitness

Funny Picture 15: "Your Cholesterol is Off by a Wide Margarine."

Source: medicalnewstoday

See more funny pics!

Red Meat Consumption Linked to Kidney Failure

A new study, published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, investigated the long-term impact of red meat consumption on kidney health. Their findings justify the current caution suggested in regard to red meat and organ health.

Red meat, such as beef, lamb, and pork, can be included as part of a healthy diet.

But, as with many dietary components, it is best to limit the amount consumed.

For instance, the American Institute for Cancer Research recommend eating no more than 18 ounces of red meat per month because of its links with certain cancers, including stomach cancer.

Research investigates the effects of red meat on kidney health.

Source: medicalnewstoday

Heart Transplantation Recipients Unaffected by Donor Troponin Levels

Many transplant centers routinely reject hearts if the donor’s blood test reveals elevated levels of troponin I, a protein found in heart muscle that enters the bloodstream when there is a heart attack or other heart muscle damage. Donors with previous heart disease are automatically excluded.

Heart transplantation is one of the greatest achievements in modern medicine and patients with advanced heart failure in whom survival is measured in weeks and months are offered the potential for survival of equal to or greater than 10 years with excellent quality of life.

According to new research, a blood test that leads to donor hearts being rejected may not effectively
predict whether a heart transplant will succeed or fail (Photo courtesy of the AMA).

Source: labmedica

Colon Cancer Susceptibility May Vary With Gut Microbes

There is mounting evidence that interactions between our genes and environment can give rise to cancer. Plus, more recently, it has become clear that the environment is not just around us, but also within us, in the form of the trillions of microbes that inhabit our bodies and outnumber our own cells. Now, a new study of rats supports a growing body of evidence that the microbes in our gut do more than help us digest food, they may also affect our susceptibility to colon cancer.

The study, from the University of Missouri in Columbia, features at The Allied Genetic Conference 2016 (TAGC) in Orlando, FL, July 13-17, 2016.

Increasingly, researchers are discovering that cancer is linked to changes in the gut microbes living in our intestines - what is known as the gut microbiota, and commonly referred to as gut bacteria.

For instance, a study published recently suggests gut bacteria may have a role in bile duct cancer.

The study, which was done in rats, suggests the type of microbiota in the gut may
influence susceptibility to colon cancer.

Source: medicalnewstoday

What If No One Believed You Were Sick?

What’s worse than feeling ill? Having no one believe that your condition exists. That’s the reality for many Canadian women living with a slew of diseases that the medical community is slow to recognize as legitimate. Could you be suffering from something serious that your physician has dismissed as 'all in your head'? Read on for information that could change your life and your health.

Noelle Harris has learned to listen to her body, even when it means making sacrifices like canceling coveted vacation plans. For an upbeat, self-confessed Type A person, it’s been a challenging realization that’s come after a long, hard battle with two chronic conditions that affect hundreds of thousands of Canadians: chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia.

Harris’s story begins in 1986, when she developed mononucleosis, followed by bronchitis three months later, then pneumonia and a bad flu several months later. When Harris initially became sick, her doctor was suspicious. 'There’s something wrong with you, but I don’t know what it is,' she told Harris.

Source: msn/health&fitness

Friday, July 15, 2016

H. Pylori: Know the Facts

Helicobacter pylori, commonly called H. pylori, is a type of bacteria that can infect the stomach and small bowel. It was discovered in 1982 by two Australian researchers who found that it causes peptic ulcer disease.

Peptic ulcers are open sores in the lining of the stomach or the upper part of the small intestine. Peptic ulcers are often called "ulcers" or "stomach ulcers."

For years, medical experts believed that peptic ulcers were caused by stress or certain foods. After the discovery of H. pylori, however, this belief was put to rest. A study in Digestive and Liver Disease suggests that 60 to nearly 100 percent of peptic ulcers are associated with H. pylori.

Biomedical Laboratory Science