Week 32 Pregnancy

32 Weeks Pregnant Small Belly

Printables, coloring pages, recipes, crafts, and more from your child's favorite Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. shows..TODAY Parents is the premiere destination for parenting news, advice community. Find the latest parenting trends and tips for your kids and family on TODAY.com..

32 Weeks Pregnant Small Belly

Pregnancy At 5 Weeks

Printables, coloring pages, recipes, crafts, and more from your child's favorite Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. shows..TODAY Parents is the premiere destination for parenting news, advice community. Find the latest parenting trends and tips for your kids and family on TODAY.com..

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THAT IMITATES CHILDRENS LEARNING

The computer programmes used in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) are highly specialised. They can for example fly airplanes, play chess or assemble cars in controlled industrial environments. However, a research team from Gothenburg, Sweden, has now been able to create an AI programme that can learn how to solve problems in many different areas. The programme is designed to imitate certain aspects of children's cognitive development.

Traditional AI programmes lack the versatility and adaptability of human intelligence. For example, they cannot come into a new home and cook, clean and do laundry.

In artificial general intelligence (AGI), which is a new field within AI, scientists try to create computer programmes with a generalised type of intelligence, enabling them to solve problems in vastly different areas.

No pre-existing knowledge

'We have developed a programme that can learn for example basic arithmetic, logic and grammar without any pre-existing knowledge,' says Claes Strannegård, a member of the research team together with Abdul Rahim Nizamani and Ulf Persson.

The best example of general intelligence that we know of today is the human brain, and the scientists' strategy has been to imitate, at a very fundamental level, how children develop intelligence. Children can learn a wide range of things. They build new knowledge based on previous knowledge and they can use their total knowledge to draw new conclusions. This is exactly what the scientists wanted their programme to be able to do.

Children learn based on experience

'We postulate that children learn everything based on experiences and that they are always looking for general patterns,' says Strannegård.

A child who for example is learning multiplication and who knows that 2 x 0 = 0 and 3 x 0 = 0 can identify a pattern and conclude that also 17 x 0 = 0. However, sometimes this method backfires. If the child knows that 0 x 0 = 0 and 1 x 1 = 1, he or she can incorrectly conclude that 2 x 2 = 2. As soon as the child realises that a certain pattern can lead to incorrect conclusions, he or she can simply stop applying it.

Identify patterns

The child can in this way create a large number of patterns not only in mathematics but also in other areas such as logic and grammar. The patterns in a certain area can then be combined with each other and make it possible to solve entirely new problems. The programme developed by the Gothenburg scientists works in a similar manner. It can identify patterns by itself and therefore differs from programmes where a programmer has to formulate which rules the programme should apply.

'We are hoping that this type of programme will eventually be useful in several different practical applications. Personally, I think a versatile household robot would be tremendously valuable, but we're not there yet,' says Strannegård.

The research team included Claes Strannegård, Associate Professor at the Department of Philosophy, Linguistics and Theory of Science, University of Gothenburg, and at the Department of Applied Information Technology, Chalmers University of Technology.

2nd Pregnancy

19 Weeks Pregnant Bump

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19 Weeks Pregnant Bump

Infographic Birth Control Pills

WebMD explains the second trimester of pregnancy and what to expect, such as pregnancy pains and cramps, and when to have your ultrasound..Pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, and has three phases or stages; the 1st, 2nd, 3rd trimesters. Early symptoms of pregnancy may include constipation, headache .Your Baby in Utero. Most women find that their second pregnancy is different from their first. For example, the intensity of fatigue or how soon you feel the baby .A second pregnancy does have its differences. Despite the fact that you are a veteran, you will be in for some surprises, both physical and mental..Video embedded Find out how your pregnancy, labor, and postpartum recovery may differ the second time around..If you're expecting your second baby, you may be wondering how your pregnancy and labour will compare with your first. Learn more about second pregnancies..Video embedded 7 things you need to know about your second pregnancy. Does pregnancy get easier each time? Here's what to expect with your second child. Jul .Planning for your second pregnancy? Well, second pregnancy can be as rewarding special as the first time. Here we've discussed the common signs symptoms.Image Source: Caroline Egan of Coeur de La Photography. There is something about a first pregnancy that is just sort of magical. It's just you and your baby and . Being pregnant with a second child is an entirely different experience than being pregnant with a first. When you're pregnant the first time, you're a .

Causes of HIV Related Pain

It may seem that the blog is being flooded with pain articles at the moment but as anybody with both HIV and neuropathy will know, putting your finger on the cause of your pain (or pains) is anything but straightforward. Today's excellent article from thewellproject.org (see link below) addresses the HIV-patient directly and explains that it's not that simple putting the correct neuropathic, or arthritic, or stomach-related or muscular, or whatever label on your pain. With a bit of luck, after reading this, you will be able to locate the source and reason for your pain before you take it to the doctor and have to explain the whole story again. It's also possible that you have more than one source of pain and it's important to know what causes what. Forewarned is forearmed and if you have a good idea of where the problem is and what's causing it, you'll help your doctor considerably to decide the appropriate tests and treatment. However, having read this, or an article like this, never go ahead and self-medicate! Drugs can very easily negatively interact with each other and it is very important that you talk everything over with your doctor before beginning any form of treatment. This may seem like a lecture but you know it makes sense!

HIV Related Pain
Updated November 2010

Pain is common in people living with HIV (HIV+ people). One study of HIV+ people found that more than 50 percent had pain. Pain can occur at all stages of HIV disease and can affect many parts of the body. Usually pain occurs more often and becomes more severe as HIV disease progresses. But each individual is different. Some people may experience a lot of pain, while others have little or none.

What Causes Pain?
HIV related pain can have many causes:

- A symptom of HIV itself
- A symptom of other illnesses or infections
- A side effect of HIV drugs

Regardless of the reason, pain should be evaluated and treated to help HIV+ people have a good quality of life.

Common Types of Pain
The first step in managing HIV related pain is identifying the type, and if possible, the cause of pain. Some common types of pain include the following:

Peripheral Neuropathy – Pain due to nerve damage, mostly in the feet and hands. It may be described as numbness, tingling, or burning. Nerve damage can be caused by HIV drugs or other medical conditions such as diabetes. The older HIV drugs that caused the most peripheral neuropathy are not commonly used today

Abdominal Pain – There are many possible causes of abdominal pain:
A side effect of some HIV drugs (for example cramps)
Infections caused by bacteria or parasites
Problems of the intestinal tract such as irritable bowels
Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) caused by some HIV drugs or by drinking alcohol.
Bladder or urinary tract infections (especially in women)
Menstrual cramps or conditions of the uterus, cervix, or ovaries

Headache – Head pain can be mild to severe, and may be described as pressure, throbbing, or a dull ache. The most common causes of mild headaches include muscle tension, flu-like illness, and HIV drug side effects. Moderate or severe headaches can be caused by sinus pressure, tooth infections, brain infections, brain tumors, bleeding in the brain, migraines, or strokes. Sometimes the cause cannot be determined.

Joint, Muscle and Bone Pain – This pain can also be mild to severe. It may be related to conditions such as arthritis, bone disease, injury, or just aging. It can also be a side effect of some HIV drugs and medications for other conditions like hepatitis or high cholesterol.

Herpes Pain – Herpes is a family of viruses common in HIV+ people. Herpes viruses stay in the body for life, going into hiding and flaring up later. The varicella-zoster herpes virus first causes chickenpox and later can cause shingles, a painful rash along nerve pathways. Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 cause painful blisters around the mouth (“cold sores”) or genital area. Even after a herpes sore heals, a person may still have persistent pain.

Other Types
- Painful skin rashes due to infections or HIV drug side effects
- Chest pain caused by lung infections such as TB, bacterial pneumonia or PCP pneumonia (Pneumocystis pneumonia)
- Mouth pain caused by ulcers (“canker sores”) or fungal infections like thrush
- Fibromyalgia or related chronic pain conditions
- Pain due to cancer anywhere in the body

Assessing Pain
Once the type of pain is identified, the next step is to evaluate its characteristics. The goals of pain assessment are to:

Define the severity of pain (how much it hurts): Your health care provider may ask you to assign a number to your pain, from one (very mild pain) to ten (the worst possible pain). Pictures can also describe pain. A smiling face represents little or no pain, while a crying face represents severe pain.
Describe details of your pain: Your health care provider may ask you to describe how your pain feels, for example sharp, dull, throbbing, or burning. Is it new (acute) or have you had it for a while (chronic)? Where is it located? Is it constant or does it come and go?

You may be having pain but do not want to complain. Talking about pain to your health care provider is not the same thing as complaining! Telling your health care provider exactly how you feel is the best thing you can do to find out what is wrong and get the right treatment.

Pain Management
Once the type and characteristics of pain are identified, you and your health care provider will decide how to manage or treat it. The following factors will play a role in selecting the right type of treatment for you:

- Cause, type, and severity of pain
- Whether it is short-term or long-term
- History of substance abuse
- If your pain is being caused by a medication you are taking or another illness, your health care provider will want to take care of that first. If you are still experiencing pain, there are many options for pain relief.

Non-medicinal Therapies
Pain relief without medications such as:

- Massage
- Relaxation techniques
- Physical therapy
- Acupuncture
- Heat and cold therapy
- Hypnosis
- Mental imagery or visualization

While these may be enough to relieve pain, they are often used along with pain medications.

Non-opioid Medications
Pain relief medicines that do not contain narcotics (opiates). They are available over-the-counter or by prescription. These medicines relieve mild to moderate pain related to inflammation or swelling. Some people with a history of drug addiction prefer non-opioid pain medicines such as:

- Tylenol (acetaminophen)
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen (for example Advil)
- COX-2 inhibitor, a type of NSAID that is less likely to cause stomach problems, for example Celebrex (celecoxib)
- Steroids, natural or manufactured hormones that reduce inflammation. Examples include prednisone and hydrocortisone

Non-opioid pain medicines can cause side effects including liver damage (Tylenol), easy bleeding (aspirin), stomach pain or damage (aspirin and other NSAIDs), and heart problems (COX-2 inhibitors).

Opioids/Narcotics
Narcotics and related drugs known as opioids are the strongest pain relievers, available only by prescription. They are used to treat moderate to severe pain.

Opioids are classified by how fast and how long they work.

Immediate release opioids – act rapidly but pain relief lasts for a shorter period of time
Sustained-released opioids – take longer to start working but pain relief lasts longer

Opioids are also classified by their strength.

Mild to moderate pain relievers (they are often mixed with non-opioid medicines to improve their action):
- Hydrocodone
- Vicodin (hydrocodone plus acetaminophen)
- Codeine
- Tylenol with codeine (acetaminophen plus codeine)
- Ultram (tramadol)
- Severe pain relievers:
- Morphine
- Fentanyl
-OxyContin (oxycodone)
- Methadone or Buprenorphine (not commonly prescribed in first-line pain reliever treatment)
Opioids can cause side effects including drowsiness, nausea, and constipation. Overdoses can slow down breathing and cause death. Opiates can lead to dependence or addiction and may be a problem for people with a history of substance use.

Topical or Local Therapies
These are medications that are injected or applied to the skin around a painful area. Examples include the local anesthetic Xylocaine (lidocaine) and capsaicin, which comes from chili peppers.

Other Therapies
There are medicines prescribed for other purposes that also have pain-relieving properties.

Anti-depressants – relieve neuropathic pain such as peripheral neuropathy. An example is Cymbalta (dulozetine).
Anti-convulsants – usually used to treat seizures, some of these drugs work for peripheral neuropathy. An example is Neurontin (gabapentin).

Determine if the Pain Treatment Works
Once you start medication or other pain treatment, your health care provider should assess your pain regularly to see if treatment is working. Sometimes pain medications can stop working over time.

What to Do if You Have Pain?
When you experience pain, it is important to know how to get fast, safe relief.

Do not ignore your pain – Pain is the body’s way of telling us something is wrong. Ignoring pain often makes matters worse and can cause more damage in the long run.
Assess your pain – When pain occurs ask yourself the following questions:
- How long have I had the pain?
- Did it happen suddenly or over time?
- Is the pain sharp or dull?
- What makes the pain worse?
- Does anything ease the pain?
- Is the pain limited to one place or does it spread out to other areas?
- Are there other symptoms (for example numbness, cough or fever)?
Notify your health care provider – Report pain to your provider without delay. Describing your pain will help find the cause and how best to treat it.
Take your pain medicine as directed – If you need pain medications, make sure you take them exactly as prescribed. Pain medications work best if they are taken at the first sign of pain. Breaking the cycle of pain means taking medications before your pain is at its worst.
Be responsible – Pain medications are very effective when taken as prescribed. Taking them incorrectly can be dangerous. Opioids are addictive, meaning you can develop physical and emotional dependence on a drug. High doses can cause breathing problems. In the worst cases, incorrect use of opioids can be fatal.
Tell your health care provider if treatment does not work – If your pain medicine is not relieving your pain, talk to your providers. You may be taking a medication that will not work for you, or you may have built a tolerance to the drugs over time. You may need to change doses or switch to a new medication.
Pain is common among HIV+ people. But it can be managed using a variety of methods. Talk to your health care provider if you are having pain. He or she can work with you to find the cause, manage the pain, and improve your quality of life.

http://www.thewellproject.org/en_US/Living_Well/Health/HIV_Pain_Mgmt.jsp

Blog Treating sciatica for runners

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SCIENTISTS REVERT HUMAN STEM CELLS TO PRISTINE STATE

Researchers at EMBL-EBI have resolved a long-standing challenge in stem cell biology by successfully 'resetting' human pluripotent stem cells to a fully pristine state, at point of their greatest developmental potential. The study, published in Cell, involved scientists from the UK, Germany and Japan and was led jointly by EMBL-EBI and the University of Cambridge.

Embryonic stem (ES) cells, which originate in early development, are capable of differentiating into any type of cell. Until now, scientists have only been able to revert 'adult' human cells (for example, liver, lung or skin) into pluripotent stem cells with slightly different properties that predispose them to becoming cells of certain types. Authentic ES cells have only been derived from mice and rats.

"Reverting mouse cells to a completely 'blank slate' has become routine, but generating equivalent naïve human cell lines has proven far more challenging," says Dr Paul Bertone, Research Group Leader at EMBL-EBI and a senior author on the study. "Human pluripotent cells resemble a cell type that appears slightly later in mammalian development, after the embryo has implanted in the uterus."

At this point, subtle changes in gene expression begin to influence the cells, which are then considered 'primed' towards a particular lineage. Although pluripotent human cells can be cultured from in vitro fertilised (IVF) embryos, until now there have been no human cells comparable to those obtained from the mouse.

Wiping cell memory

"For years, it was thought that we could be missing the developmental window when naïve human cells could be captured, or that the right growth conditions hadn't been found," Paul explains. "But with the advent of iPS cell technologies, it should have been possible to drive specialised human cells back to an earlier state, regardless of their origin -- if that state existed in primates."

Taking a new approach, the scientists used reprogramming methods to express two different genes, NANOG and KLF2, which reset the cells. They then maintained the cells indefinitely by inhibiting specific biological pathways. The resulting cells are capable of differentiating into any adult cell type, and are genetically normal.

The experimental work was conducted hand-in-hand with computational analysis.

"We needed to understand where these cells lie in the spectrum of the human and mouse pluripotent cells that have already been produced," explains Paul. "We worked with the EMBL Genomics Core Facility to produce comprehensive transcriptional data for all the conditions we explored. We could then compare reset human cells to genuine mouse ES cells, and indeed we found they shared many similarities."

Together with Professor Wolf Reik at the Babraham Institute, the researchers also showed that DNA methylation (biochemical marks that influence gene expression) was erased over much of the genome, indicating that reset cells are not restricted in the cell types they can produce. In this more permissive state, the cells no longer retain the memory of their previous lineages and revert to a blank slate with unrestricted potential to become any adult cell.

Unlocking the potential of stem cell therapies

The research was performed in collaboration with Professor Austin Smith, Director of the Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute.

"Our findings suggest that it is possible to rewind the clock to achieve true ground-state pluripotency in human cells," said Professor Smith. "These cells may represent the real starting point for formation of tissues in the human embryo. We hope that in time they will allow us to unlock the fundamental biology of early development, which is impossible to study directly in people."

The discovery paves the way for the production of superior patient material for translational medicine. Reset cells mark a significant advance for human stem cell applications, such as drug screening of patient-specific cells, and are expected to provide reliable sources of specialised cell types for regenerative tissue grafts.

CHEMISTS RECRUIT ANTHRAX TO DELIVER CANCER CELLS

Bacillus anthracis bacteria have very efficient machinery for injecting toxic proteins into cells, leading to the potentially deadly infection known as anthrax. A team of MIT researchers has now hijacked that delivery system for a different purpose: administering cancer drugs.

"Anthrax toxin is a professional at delivering large enzymes into cells," says Bradley Pentelute, the Pfizer-Laubauch Career Development Assistant Professor of Chemistry at MIT. "We wondered if we could render anthrax toxin nontoxic, and use it as a platform to deliver antibody drugs into cells."

In a paper appearing in the journal ChemBioChem, Pentelute and colleagues showed that they could use this disarmed version of the anthrax toxin to deliver two proteins known as antibody mimics, which can kill cancer cells by disrupting specific proteins inside the cells. This is the first demonstration of effective delivery of antibody mimics into cells, which could allow researchers to develop new drugs for cancer and many other diseases, says Pentelute, the senior author of the paper.

Hitching a ride

Antibodies -- natural proteins the body produces to bind to foreign invaders -- are a rapidly growing area of pharmaceutical development. Inspired by natural protein interactions, scientists have designed new antibodies that can disrupt proteins such as the HER2 receptor, found on the surfaces of some cancer cells. The resulting drug, Herceptin, has been successfully used to treat breast tumors that overexpress the HER2 receptor.

Several antibody drugs have been developed to target other receptors found on cancer-cell surfaces. However, the potential usefulness of this approach has been limited by the fact that it is very difficult to get proteins inside cells. This means that many potential targets have been "undruggable," Pentelute says.

"Crossing the cell membrane is really challenging," he says. "One of the major bottlenecks in biotechnology is that there really doesn't exist a universal technology to deliver antibodies into cells."

For inspiration to solve this problem, Pentelute and his colleagues turned to nature. Scientists have been working for decades to understand how anthrax toxins get into cells; recently researchers have started exploring the possibility of mimicking this system to deliver small protein molecules as vaccines.

The anthrax toxin has three major components. One is a protein called protective antigen (PA), which binds to receptors called TEM8 and CMG2 that are found on most mammalian cells. Once PA attaches to the cell, it forms a docking site for two anthrax proteins called lethal factor (LF) and edema factor (EF). These proteins are pumped into the cell through a narrow pore and disrupt cellular processes, often resulting in the cell's death.

However, this system can be made harmless by removing the sections of the LF and EF proteins that are responsible for their toxic activities, leaving behind the sections that allow the proteins to penetrate cells. The MIT team then replaced the toxic regions with antibody mimics, allowing these cargo proteins to catch a ride into cells through the PA channel.

'A prominent advance'

The antibody mimics are based on protein scaffolds that are smaller than antibodies but still maintain structural diversity and can be designed to target different proteins inside a cell. In this study, the researchers successfully targeted several proteins, including Bcr-Abl, which causes chronic myeloid leukemia; cancer cells in which that protein was disrupted underwent programmed cell suicide. The researchers also successfully blocked hRaf-1, a protein that is overactive in many cancers.

"This work represents a prominent advance in the drug-delivery field," says Jennifer Cochran, an associate professor of bioengineering at Stanford University. "Given the efficient protein delivery Pentelute and colleagues achieved with this technology compared to a traditional cell-penetrating peptide, studies to translate these findings to in vivo disease models will be highly anticipated."

The MIT team is now testing this approach to treat tumors in mice and is also working on ways to deliver the antibodies to specific types of cells.

How Neuropathy affects us all

The rule on this blog is generally, absolutely no advertising however this video from a medical practice in Georgia, USA is so full of useful and accurate information that will hit all the right notes with neuropathy patients, that an exception can definitely be made. As it turns out, the good doctor's promise of a scroll-down text (which could also have been very useful) and a link to the details of his practice and how he proposes to help neuropathy patients at the end of the video, are missing; so the problem of promoting someone's business doesn't arise. I'm not sure why the information at the end isn't there - perhaps it's a YouTube thing but please don't let that put you off watching the video...it's only 4.52 minutes and the man knows how we feel!

Lifestyle and Neuropathy interview with an expert in the field

Okay, most HIV patients who also have neuropathy, try to change their lifestyle in some way, to try reduce some of the worst effects of the disease. That's normal; it's not obligatory, it's just a normal reaction to try something out if someone advises you that it will help...so how does a bad diet, drinking and recreational drug use affect people's neuropathy? These are just some of the questions in this interview for Aidsmap.com files (see link below) with Dr Hadi Manji, one of only a handful of neurologists in the UK with extensive clinical experience of HIV-related neuropathy.

ATU: How can you tell whether the neuropathy is caused by HIV or by the medicines used to treat it?

Dr Hadi Manji:The presentation of HIV neuropathy is very similar to drug-related neuropathy, but there are some clues to tell whether it is the drugs or not. Sometimes the drug-related neuropathies come on very rapidly, almost explosively.My impression is that drug-related neuropathies may also be more painful. And if there's involvement of the fingers, that, to my mind, would be more drug – than HIV-related.

ATU: How many people have both HIV and drug-related neuropathy together?

HM: In my experience, a lot of people – up to 60% – who develop neuropathy that is attributed to the drugs are still left with neuropathy when they stop the offending drug, despite some improvement. My feeling is that these individuals probably had asymptomatic HIV related neuropathy that was unmasked by the drugs.

ATU:What other factors can make neuropathy worse?

HM:The bottom line is, if you've got nerve -related problems for whatever reason – HIV or antiretrovirals – and you add another factor that damages nerves, you are more likely to cause further damage. For example, when I see patients, I ask about alcohol intake, because alcohol damages nerves, making you more vulnerable to neuropathy.

ATU: How much alcohol is too much?

HM: It would seem reasonable that anyone who drinks more than the recommended 21 units a week for men [14 for women] may be more vulnerable. It's impossible to be categorical about these things because the other factor in alcohol-related neuropathy is vitamin B deficiency due to poor diet.

ATU: Does that also mean that people who use recreational drugs, and have a poor diet, could get neuropathy?

HM:There's no evidence that recreational drugs themselves cause neuropathy. However, the poor nutrition that can accompany drug-taking could certainly be a factor, since it is deficiency of the B vitamins which is important for nerve function.The cause of neuropathy in people who eat badly for any reason is usually thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency.

ATU:Would you suggest that people whose diet is likely to be poor, for whatever reason, supplement with a vitamin B-complex tablet?

HM: I think that's reasonable, but with a caveat. One of the B-complex vitamins, B6, if taken in excess, causes neuropathy. At one stage in New York, B6 overdose was a common cause of neuropathy, because people were taking too much in their supplements. It's also worth checking B12 levels if you're a vegetarian, or if you have chronic diarrhoea.

ATU:What else do you check for when you see your patients for the first time?

HM: Diabetes is a cause of neuropathy, so I always check my patients' blood sugar. I also check to see if there are any other drugs that could cause neuropathy. For example, isoniazid, which is used to treat TB, can cause neuropathy.

ATU: What about co-infection with hepatitis C?

HM: Although there is a mechanism by which hepatitis C can cause neuropathy, it is very rare. I haven't seen more neuropathy in coinfected patients.

ATU: Are all the d-drugs equally likely to cause neuropathy, and of all the HAART medications, is it only d-drugs that can cause neuropathy?

HM: Of the antiretrovirals, only ddC, ddI and d4T are associated with neuropathy.The others aren't. ddC used to be the worst offender, but use of that drug has reduced significantly. In fact, compared with the early studies, incidence of neuropathy from all of these drugs is reducing for two reasons. First, lower drug doses are being used. Secondly, people aren't quite so immunosuppressed when they start the drugs, so they don't run the risk of this asymptomatic HIV-related neuropathy, as it is less likely to occur in people with higher CD4 counts.

ATU: How do you treat people with neuropathy who have no option but to
remain on d-drugs?

HM: Often, if the person is doing well as far as CD4 count and viral load are concerned, both the patient and HIV doctor are not that keen on stopping the d-drug.You could consider reducing the dose of the offending drug, but then there are concerns about resistance. Otherwise, all we can do then is to control the symptoms by using other drugs to make life a bit more bearable.

ATU: Do you prescribe antidepressants?

HM: I think they have a role to play, so I wouldn't write them off completely. I tend to use one of the tricyclics, amitryptyline.The crucial
thing is to start at the lowest possible dose (10mg), since it causes drowsiness. However,this does work in the patients' favour,particularly if they take it at night, because they can get a decent night's sleep.

ATU: Given the promising pain-reducing qualities of smoked marijuana presented at the recent Retroviruses Conference, would you support its use in the UK?

HM: In terms of other neuropathies, I have had patients who have said that smoking cannabis may be helpful.These results from San Francisco are preliminary, and it's never been trialled in a formal setting. Since there is no definite evidence to its benefit, I currently wouldn't be able to recommend it.

ATU: Before HAART, about one third of people reported HIV-related neuropathy. Why hasn't the incidence of neuropathy decreased in the HAART era?


HM: It's a combination of people living longer, and use of the d-drugs.We may see even more neuropathies appear as people with HIV are living longer.This is because there may well be increased risks for other causes of neuropathy that we currently see in non-HIV peripheral nerve clinics – diabetes, for example. So, when doctors see patients who are ageing with HIV, they will have to consider not just HIV or the drugs they take, but the other causes, too.

http://www.aidsmap.com/files/file1000724.pdf

How Important Is Vitamin B In The Treatment Of Nerve Damage

Today's post  from cidpneuropathysupport.com (see link below) looks at the role of Vitamin B in both the prevention of and treatment of neuropathy. This article looks at it from the inflammatory neuropathy angle but it can be argued that all neuropathy is inflammatory by nature. The nerves become inflamed and/or damaged through inflammation and a vitamin B deficiency is often seen as contributing to that. That said, you need to be tested by your doctor to establish a deficiency before embarking on vast amounts of supplements. For neuropathy patients with a normal Vitamin B level, there'll be enough extra in your daily multivitamin. There are also different forms of vitamin B and excessive amounts can bring about side-effects - best discuss it with your doctor.

CIDP Type Neuropathy and Vitamin B
Author: Shiraz Abbas May 27, 2017

Studies are now suggesting that vitamin B may have an important role in healing or easing the pain of peripheral neuropathy and CIDP type of neuropathy in particular.

Peripheral neuropathy is a disorder of the peripheral nerves. It is often characterized by weakness of limbs, numbness and pain. CIDP type neuropathy is a form of neuropathy in which there is a progressive and gradual destruction of the nerves through inflammation.

The vitamin B family of vitamins (also known as B complex vitamins) are critical for the proper functioning of the human body. They play a role in our immune system, energy, and red blood cell formation. Vitamin B12 is particularly important for neurological health and is a vitamin of choice to help treat neuropathy.

Vitamin B is commonly used to treat neuropathy. According to one study, people given high doses of vitamin B for four weeks had their pain reduced and saw improvement in their vibration perception threshold (VPT), that is, a testing that is used to measure large nerve fiber function in the body. People with lesser doses in a 8 week span saw lesser improvement.

Deficiency in B vitamins may lead to neurological problems. B12 in particular is important for the development of the central and peripheral nervous system. It has a critical role in maintaining the myelin sheath which ensures the transmission of nerve signals in the central and peripheral nervous system.

In neuropathy, especially CIDP type neuropathy, the signals between the spinal cord and other parts of the body are disrupted. With CIDP in particular, the myelin sheath is gradually but progressively damaged through inflammation and hence leading to an impairment of the transmission of nerve signals. This process of demyelination leads to axonal destruction. The disease is thus characterized by the following symptoms: weakness of the limbs, numbness, tingling sensation and pain. Loss of sensation and activity also happens depending on where the damage is occurring.

As B vitamins, particularly vitamin B12 play a role in maintaining a healthy peripheral nervous system, the vitamin may also play a role in the reconstruction of the nerves and more particularly the myelin sheath and hence helping the reduction of pain and improving sensation.

Some people with neuropathy may not be able to absorb vitamin B12 due to the loss of the “intrinsic factor” that is produced in the stomach and hence the loss of ability to absorb B12 through the digestive tract. In these cases like these, B12 may be injected into the body. Please check with your doctor if you have digestion problems with it comes to B12.

For those who can absorb it through the digestive tract, the following foods are high in B12 in addition to B12 supplements:

Beef Liver (71 mcg for a three-ounce serving, provides 2951% of the daily recommended intake).
Mackerel (16 mcg for a three-ounce serving, provides 661% of the daily recommended intake).
Sardines (8 mcg for a three-ounce serving, provides 333% of the daily recommended intake).
Read Meat (5 mcg for a three-ounce serving, provides 208% of the daily recommended intake).
Salmon (4 mcg for a three-ounce serving, provides 167% of the daily recommended intake).


Shiraz Abbas is the founder and manager of the CIDP Neuropathy Support Group. He is also one of the main community educators of IVIG therapy. He resides in Fresno, California. Shiraz can be contacted through our free CIDP advice service at 1-855-782-0574.

http://cidpneuropathysupport.com/cidp-neuropathy-and-vitamin-b/

Rhinitis Of Pregnancy

Allergic Rhinitis

Rhinitis or coryza is irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane inside the nose. Common symptoms are a stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing, and post-nasal drip..Pregnancy Rhinitis. Feeling a little stuffed up lately? Or perhaps you are constantly blowing a runny nose? If so, you are not alone. Many women experience symptoms .Severe stuffy nose during pregnancy. pregnancy rhinitis. rhinitis of pregnancy. what it is, and what to DO about it!.During pregnancy, the body is going through many changes as it supports the growing fetus. At this time, it is much more important to be aware of the substances .Allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, is a type of inflammation in the nose which occurs when the immune system overreacts to allergens in the air. Signs and .Do you feel like you have a rotten cold? It could be pregnancy rhinitis. These tips can help alleviate symptoms..Nonallergic rhinitis doesn't usually cause itchy nose, eyes or throat symptoms associated with allergies such as hay fever. When to see a doctor.Find out why pregnancy can cause a stuffy nose or runny nose and what you can do about this nasal congestion, also known as rhinitis of pregnancy..Learn more from WebMD about nonallergic rhinitis, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and reme.s..If you're dealing with a stuffy nose and constant sneezing while pregnant, you're probably dealing with pregnancy rhinitis. Find out what you can do to alleviate your .

Allergic Rhinitis

Atrophic Rhinitis

Pregnancy Rhinitis. Feeling a little stuffed up lately? Or perhaps you are constantly blowing a runny nose? If so, you are not alone. Many women experience symptoms .Do you feel like you have a rotten cold? It could be pregnancy rhinitis. These tips can help alleviate symptoms..During pregnancy, the body is going through many changes as it supports the growing fetus. At this time, it is much more important to be aware of the substances .If you're dealing with a stuffy nose and constant sneezing while pregnant, you're probably dealing with pregnancy rhinitis. Find out what you can do to alleviate your .Severe stuffy nose during pregnancy. pregnancy rhinitis. rhinitis of pregnancy. what it is, and what to DO about it!.Rhinitis or coryza is irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane inside the nose. Common symptoms are a stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing, and post-nasal drip..Allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, is a type of inflammation in the nose which occurs when the immune system overreacts to allergens in the air. Signs and .Learn more from WebMD about nonallergic rhinitis, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and reme.s.. Find out why pregnancy can cause a stuffy nose or runny nose and what you can do about this nasal congestion, also known as rhinitis of pregnancy..Nonallergic rhinitis doesn't usually cause itchy nose, eyes or throat symptoms associated with allergies such as hay fever. When to see a doctor.

Work in Progress II

I wonder if the reason

we - artists-writers-herbalists-soft underbelly mamas -

don't get the work in the world

we wish for

is because we are so damn busy waiting for

approval.

waiting for the right business to hire us

(affirmation)

for the right school to say you graduated

(it's official!)

for the right business partner

(I can't do it without a scapegoat)

or whatEVER

and we keep getting only some of what we need.

MAYBE we keep waiting for that special validation

with the right hours and perfect situation

because we are to damn scared to say

I'm good at what I do

I take responsibility for my learning curve

I have the right to make my hours,

create the structure right for me,

to be unique

and excellent

and at the mercy of no one else's

approval

besides my own.

Maybe we would prosper if we decided

we were so passionate at what we did that we were

always

learning more

and maybe we would prosper

if we had the guts

to shamelessly

self promote.

We wouldn't want to be confident, now would we?

That would be arrogant, presumptuous.

How can you have any objectivity towards yourself?

I am good at what I do.

I love what I do.

I care about my work.

I can make my own hours,

meet my own needs and those of my family,

take care of my home and the land I love,

and I deserve to make good money for it.

Without overworking.

Without extremism.

Without selling my ideas

or pride

or leaking out my well of energy.

There is room in this world for good people to prosper.

We are good at what we do.

Webmd Pregnancy

Pregnancy Infographic

Talk to health experts and other people like you in WebMD's Communities. It's a safe forum where you can create or participate in support groups and discussions about . Reverse Diabetes Today Book ::The 3 Step Trick that Reverses Diabetes Permanently in As Little as 11 Days.[ REVERSE DIABETES TODAY BOOK ] The REAL cause of .The eMedicine point-of-care clinical reference features up-to-date, searchable, peer-reviewed medical articles organized in specialty-focused textbooks, and is .Generic Celebrex Online. Brand celebrex online. Get free coupon to order celebrex online with bonus pills and fast worldwide delivery..U.S. Food and Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20993 1-888-INFO-FDA 1-888-463-6332 Contact FDA. Ayurveda Diabetes ::The 3 Step Trick that Reverses Diabetes Permanently in As Little as 11 Days.[ AYURVEDA DIABETES ] The REAL cause of Diabetes and the .Sleep disorders include a range of problems -- from insomnia to narcolepsy -- and affect millions of Americans. Learn more about sleep disorders.

Pregnancy Infographic

Baby At 26 Weeks Pregnant

Talk to health experts and other people like you in WebMD's Communities. It's a safe forum where you can create or participate in support groups and discussions about .Sleep disorders include a range of problems -- from insomnia to narcolepsy -- and affect millions of Americans. Learn more about sleep disorders.The eMedicine point-of-care clinical reference features up-to-date, searchable, peer-reviewed medical articles organized in specialty-focused textbooks, and is .U.S. Food and Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20993 1-888-INFO-FDA 1-888-463-6332 Contact FDA. Ayurveda Diabetes ::The 3 Step Trick that Reverses Diabetes Permanently in As Little as 11 Days.[ AYURVEDA DIABETES ] The REAL cause of Diabetes and the .Generic Celebrex Online. Brand celebrex online. Get free coupon to order celebrex online with bonus pills and fast worldwide delivery.. Reverse Diabetes Today Book ::The 3 Step Trick that Reverses Diabetes Permanently in As Little as 11 Days.[ REVERSE DIABETES TODAY BOOK ] The .

CONSUMING WHEY PROTEIN BEFORE MEALS REDUCES BLOOD SUGAR SPIKES

A whey protein drink before breakfast can control erratic glucose levels associated with type 2 diabetes, say Tel Aviv University researchers

Blood sugar surges - after-meal glucose "spikes" - can be life threatening for the 29 million Americans with diabetes. Diabetic blood sugar spikes have been linked to cardiovascular disease, cancer, alzheimer’s diseases ,  , kidney failure, and retinal damage. Now a new Tel Aviv University study, published inDiabetologia, suggests a novel way to suppress these deadly post-meal glucose surges: the consumption of whey protein concentrate, found in the watery portion of milk separated from cheese curds, before breakfast.

According to TAU's Prof. Daniela Jakubowicz and Dr. Julio Wainstein of the Wolfson Medical Center's Diabetes Unit, Prof. Oren Froy of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Prof. Bo Ahrén of Lund University in Sweden, the consumption of whey protein before meals may even keep diabetics' need for insulin treatment at bay.

"What's remarkable is that consuming whey protein before meals reduces the blood sugar spikes seen after meals. It also improves the body's insulin response, putting it in the same range or even higher than that produced by novel anti-diabetic drugs," said Prof. Jakubowicz. "High milk intake has long been associated with lower risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and milk whey protein increases the production of a gut hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that stimulates insulin secretion. This, in turn, reduces the blood glucose rise after meals."

"We hypothesized that stimulating GLP-1 production by consuming whey protein before a meal would enhance insulin secretion and have beneficial glucose-lowering effects in type 2 diabetes," Prof. Jakubowicz said.

The study was conducted on 15 individuals with well-controlled type 2 diabetes at Wolfson Medical Center. The participants were randomized to receive either 50 grams of whey in 250 ml water or a placebo, followed by a standardized high-glycemic index breakfast of three slices of white bread and sugary jelly - a meal designed to produce the maximum post-meal glucose spike.

Blood samples were taken 30 minutes before the meal, when the whey protein or placebo drinks were consumed. Further blood samples, assessing plasma concentration of glucose, intact GLP-1, and insulin concentrations, were taken when the breakfast was served and at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 minute intervals after the meal.

The researchers found that glucose levels were reduced by 28 percent after the whey pre-load over the 180-minute post-meal period, with a uniform reduction during early and late phases. With whey pre-load, insulin and GLP-1 responses also were significantly higher (105 and 141 percent, respectively), producing a 96 percent increase in early insulin response.

"The early insulin response that usually is deficient in type-2 diabetes was significantly higher after whey protein than with placebo, and the whey protein preload significantly reduced the elevation of blood glucose after breakfast," said Prof. Jakubowicz. "Whey protein could therefore represent a novel approach for enhancing glucose-lowering strategies in type 2 diabetes."

Based on the findings of this study, the authors are considering a long-term clinical trial to test the enduring benefits of whey protein consumption for diabetics.

A NEW QUALITY CONTROL PATHWAY IN THE CELL

Proteins are important building blocks in our cells and each cell contains millions of different protein molecules. They are involved in everything from structural to regulatory aspects in the cell. Proteins are constructed as linear molecules but they only become functional once they are folded into specific three-dimensional structures. Several factors, like mutations, stress and age, can interfere with this folding process and induce protein misfolding. Accumulated misfolded proteins are toxic and to prevent this, cells have developed quality control systems just like any other production chain or manufacturing process

A team of researchers at the Centre for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona has just published a paper inScience describing a new quality control system in our cells. It is specific to the inner nuclear membrane, a specialised part of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), a network of membranes that spreads throughout the cell and which also forms the nuclear envelope that wraps the chromosomes.

Other quality control systems have been described but exactly how misfolded proteins in the inner nuclear membrane were degraded was not known. Ombretta Foresti, Victoria Rodríguez-Vaello and Pedro Carvalho, from the Organelle Biogenesis and Homeostasis laboratory at the CRG have just described the new system. "We have found that this quality control system has two key functions. It gets rid of misfolded proteins and, surprisingly, it also helps prevent the nucleus accumulating proteins that should not be there," explains Pedro Carvalho, principal investigator of this paper.

The studies have been conducted using a unicellular model organism (Baker's yeast) but they may also apply to human physiology. The newly identified quality control system protects the nucleus by targeting foreign proteins that could enter the nucleus by mistake. This could be particularly significant in non-dividing cells where the inner nuclear membrane is isolated from the rest of the ER for long periods of time

These findings have been made possible thanks to funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and MCCIN at the CRG in Barcelona.

Watch Out For Neuropathic Antibiotic Side Effects!

Today's post from collective-evolution.com (see link below) is another powerful argument against taking fluoroquinolone antibiotics (Cipro,Levaquin,Avalox etc), especially if you have or are prone to neuropathic problems. It's astonishing that many doctors are still unaware of the dangers and side effects of these drugs and prescribe them routinely without looking to see whether the patient is at risk. The best advice is to look at the pharmaceutical (not the brand name) name of any antibiotics you are given and check the side effects on the internet (Drugs.com has a reliable and trustworthy reputation in this regard). After that, if you are still worried, discuss it with your doctor with any evidence you might have gathered and ask for an alternative (there are plenty to choose from). Don't just stop taking them or ignore it - rely on your doctor making the right choice in the end.
 

Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics: Are You At Risk?
August 26, 2013 by Lisa Bloomquist. 

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics, Cipro, Levaquin, Avelox, etc. are broad-spectrum antibiotics used to treat a variety of infections, from urinary tract infections to anthrax and everything in between. The first quinolone created was Nalidixic Acid which was discovered by George Lesher in 1962. (Nalidixic Acid was added to the OEHHA prop 65 list of carcinogens in 1998.) Cipro (ciprofloxacin) is a second generation fluoroquinolone patented in 1983 by Bayer, Levaquin (levofloxacin) is a third generation fluroquinolone patented in 1987 by Ortho-McNeil-Janssen (a division of Johnson & Johnson), and Avelox (moxifloxacin) is a fourth generation fluoroquinolone patented in 1991 by Bayer.

Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics – Still on the Market

Of the 30 quinolones that have made it to market since the 1980s, all but 6 have either been removed from the US market or have severely restricted use.

The fluoroquinolone antibiotics that are still on the market are some of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics. Per the FDA, “Approximately 23.1 million unique patients received a dispensed prescription for an oral fluoroquinolone product from outpatient retail pharmacies during 2011,” and “Within the hospital setting, there were approximately 3.8 million unique patients billed for an injectable fluoroquinolone product during 2011.”

When used properly, such as in cases of life-threatening hospital acquired pneumonia, fluroquinolone antibiotics can save lives. 

Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic Side-Effects and Adverse Reactions

When used improperly, fluoroquinolone antibiotics can needlessly cause devastating side-effects. Devastating side-effects can also occur when fluoroquinolone antibiotics are used properly, but the devastation can be justified by weighing it against the alternative – death. In 2001, Dr. Jay S. Cohen published an article on the severe and often disabling reactions some people sustained as a result of taking a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. Dr. Cohen says,

It is difficult to describe the severity of these reactions. They are devastating. Many of the people in my study were healthy before their reactions. Some were high intensity athletes. Suddenly they were disabled, in terrible pain, unable to work, walk, or sleep

Dr. Cohen’s study of 45 subjects suffering from Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome, a name that I’m pushing for, (without an official name, it is difficult get the word out) showed that they had the following symptoms:

Peripheral Nervous System: Tingling, numbness, prickling, burning pain, pins/needles sensation, electrical or shooting pain, skin crawling, sensation, hyperesthesia, hypoesthesia, allodynia (sensitivity to touch) numbness, weakness, twitching, tremors, spasms.

Central Nervous System: Dizziness, malaise, weakness, impaired coordination, nightmares, insomnia, headaches, agitation, anxiety, panic attacks, disorientation, impaired concentration or memory, confusion, depersonalization, hallucinations, psychoses.

Musculoskeletal: Muscle pain, weakness, soreness, joint swelling, pain, tendon pain, ruptures.

Special Senses: Diminished or altered visual, olfactory, auditory functioning, tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

Cardiovascular: Tachycardia, shortness of breath, hypertension, palpitations, chest pain.

Skin: Rash, swelling, hair loss, sweating, intolerance to heat and\or cold.
Gastrointestinal: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain.

When a fluoroquinolone antibiotic triggers a toxic reaction in a person, multiple symptoms are often experienced.

Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic Damage – Technical Aspects

Fluoroquinolones are eukaryotic DNA gyrase and topoisomerase inhibitors very similar to many antineoplastic agents (source). What this means in plain English is that these drugs work the same way as chemotherapeutic drugs; they disrupt DNA and lead to destruction of cells. A recent (2013) study conducted by a team of scientists at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University Studies showed that Ciprofloxacin, along with a couple of other non-fluoroquinolone antibiotics, causes oxidative stress and mitochondrial malfunction. A 2011 study published in the Journal of Young Pharmacists found that, “There is significant and gradual elevation of lipid peroxide levels in patients on ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin.” They also found that “There was substantial depletion in both SOD (superoxide dismutase, “a free radical scavenging enzyme”) and glutathione levels” and that “On the 5th day of treatment, plasma antioxidant status decreased by 77.6%, 50.5% (and) 7.56% for ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and gatifloxacin respectively.” The study also notes that administration of fluoroquinolones leads to a marked increase in the formation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and that “reactive free radicals overwhelms the antioxidant defence, lipid peroxidation of the cell membrane occurs. This causes disturbances in cell integrity leading to cell damage/death.” 

How Many People are at Risk?

The exact rate of adverse reactions to fluoroquinolones is difficult to determine. Studies of adverse reactions to fluoroquinolones have noted that, “During clinical trials, the overall frequencies of adverse effects associated with (fluoroquinolones) to vary between 4.4 and 20%.” Just the fact that the spread is so large, a 15.6% spread in frequency of adverse reactions is a HUGE difference, it implies that the actual occurrence of adverse reactions is difficult to establish or unknown.

With the FDA figures above noting that 26.9 million unique patients were given fluoroquinolones in 2011, if you just take the conservative adverse reaction figure of 4.4%, you’ll get a horrifying number of people with adverse reactions in 2011 alone – 1,183,600 people. 20% of 26.9 million is 5,380,000 people adversely effected. That is scary. Those numbers are truly frightening given the severity of the adverse effects described above.
Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome

I see fluoroquinolone toxicity everywhere, and even I think that those numbers are high for severe, disabling reactions like mine where multiple symptoms develop simultaneously. Not everyone who has an adverse reaction to a fluoroquinolone has a reaction like mine, or even develops Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome. Many people have milder reactions. Milder symptoms include any one of the symptoms listed above as well as diarrhea, vomiting, mild tendinitis, decreased energy, painless muscle twitches, memory loss, urgency of urination, or any number of reactions that the body may have to a massive depletion of antioxidants and increases in lipid peroxide levels and reactive oxygen species production.

Even though severe adverse reactions to fluoroquinolones antibiotics can be painful and disabling for years, many (possibly most, but certainly not all) people recover from Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome with time. I anticipate that I will be fully recovered 2 years after my reaction started. Sadly, there are some people who don’t recover. They suffer from chronic pain, disability, impaired cognitive abilities, etc. permanently.

It is absurd, to say the least, that an acute problem, an infection, that can easily be taken care of with administration of an antibiotic that is not a fluoroquinolone, is converted into a chronic problem, a syndrome that can disable a person for years, by a prescription ANTIBIOTIC, used as prescribed. In my case, a urinary tract infection that could have likely been taken care of with macrobid or even cranberry juice and d-mannos, was treated with Cipro which left me unable to do many physical and mental tasks that I had previously been able to do with ease. It’s a crazy, absurd situation. It’s absurd and it’s wrong.

Some Antibiotics are More Dangerous than Others

The bottom line is that these popularly prescribed antibiotics are dangerous drugs that have caused thousands of people to suffer with a myriad of maladies. Undeniably, they have their place, in treating life-threatening infections. Unfortunately, they are not being reserved for use in life-threatening situations and people are being hurt after taking them for simple sinus, urinary tract, bronchial and prostate infections. A strict and rigorous protocol needs to be established to limit the damage that they cause; because it’s not right to maim and disable people to treat their sinus infections.

Sources are highlighted throughout the article.

http://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/08/26/fluoroquinolone-antibiotics-are-you-at-risk/

Neuropathy When A Picture Says It Better

Have you ever wished you just had the right image to send to someone who'd just sent you yet another e-mail asking how you are and noting how well you looked the last time they saw you? You need the image that says more than a thousand words right? Now neuropathy is not normally a laughing matter but there are a few 'lighter' images out there you might want to send, without any explanatory text, or long explanations. Given the choice between strangling your well-meaning friends, or firing a humour-bullet...one of these may fit the bill. If you know of more...let us know..they just might make someone's day a tiny bit better.

I've Got Neuropathy...Deal With It!
Dave R April 2016

 

www.neuropathyandhiv.blogspot.com