Gene-Tracking and Stem-Cells Defeat a Mysterious Disease!

Nicholas Volker of Monona, Wisconsin, was 3 years old. At that age, the little boy had already suffered over 100 surgeries.

The team of baffled doctors tried one procedure after another. But they didn't know what was wrong, and little Nick just kept getting sicker. His intestines swelled and abscessed. Nothing worked.

The child's doctors could not determine what was slowly destroying the helpless child.

Finally, Dr. Alan D. Mayer, (assistant professor of Pediatrics at the Medical College, and pediatric gastroenterologist with Children's Hospital), sought a possible genetic cause.

In a bold approach, researchers examined the 3-year-old's genes--- all
20,000 of them. The team of scientists and physicians (at the Medical
College of Wisconsin and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin) used genetic sequencing, to try to track down an unknown disease.

They spent three months, and finally discovered one gene with a unique
mutation. Nick's severe bowel disorder came from a 'XIAP deficiency'. The
team had sequenced all the genes in Nick's DNA, to identify a previously-unknown mutation.

With this new direction, Dr Mayer's team performed a blood-cord transplant.
They used stem cells from a matched, healthy donor.

Dr Mayer summed it up: "Exhaustive efforts to reach a diagnosis revealed numerous abnormalities in Nick's immune system, but none pointed to a specific disease. So we decided the next logical step was to sequence his entire exome."

Now, thanks to gene research and stem cell therapy, little Nick is back home. And he's eating a normal diet, without consequences, for the first time in his life.

We must not fear advances in medicine, like genetics and stem cell research, but embrace them. Especially when they save lives!

MRSA and You

The horrors of MRSA--- the so-called 'flesh-eating bacteria", or 'methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus'--- have been well-publicized in all media.

Staphyloccocus aureus bacteria can cause boils, huge abscesses, impetigo, deep septic wounds, heart-valve problems, toxic shock syndrome.... and death.

Now, recent landmark studies have shown that MRSA much prefers human hemoglobin to that of other animal blood. And hospitals are a preferred breeding ground. About 1.7 million healthcare-associated infections are closely linked to about 99,000 deaths in US hospitals every year.

Bad news, in that MRSA apparently thrives on humans. Good news, in that MRSA may be less likely acquired from other animals.

Now, there is some definitely good MRSA news, published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association).

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) report that MRSA infections have dropped significantly in the USA over the last four years.

Researchers examined data from 2005 through to the end of 2008 of nine American metropolitan areas. They reveal that health care-associated invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections fell among patients with infections that began in the community or in the hospital.

MRSA is highly resistant to a number of antibiotics, including methicillin. Staphylococcus aureus lives on human skin and inside the nose. It's normally harmless, and in fact, most people carrying it are totally unaware.

In the UK, 30% of the population are said to carry MRSA in their nose or on their skin. And MRSA moves readily through any kind of skin contact. But most immune systems keep it at bay.

So why worry? Staphyloccocus aureus bacteria invade the body through a cut or wound. That's why hospitals see so much MRSA.

Patients with weakened immune systems (for example due to other illnesses) or who have undergone surgery (for example heart surgery or hip replacement) can develop more serious problems.

The CDC researchers can't explain the recent decrease in invasive health care-associated MRSA infections.

Could it be better nutrition, alongside better MRSA prevention practices?

One thing all researchers agree upon--- good nutrition can help you build your immune system., your body's first line of defense against all disease.

A diet rich in vegetables and fruit can give you credit in your body's health bank, for the time when it's desperately needed.

Every moment, a war is ranging on your skin, as your antibodies attack bacteria and viruses attempting to invade and colonize you.

Who Needs Long-Term Care Insurance?

Long-term care is very expensive. Some insurance companies want to raise
the cost of their monthly premiums, while others are no longer offering such policies at all anymore.

In many parts of the world, family members provide daily health care for their loved one whose health is failing. But sometimes their abilities fall behind the increasing needs of the patient. This is when long-term care may be needed.

Long-term care is expensive. Why? Because trained caregivers are needed,
in a controlled environment. The family may be forced to employ homemaker
services at home, but often they need an assisted living facility, hospice, or a nursing home.

This will cost money for the rest of the ailing person's life. Without insurance, it can bleed you dry.

Here are some good reasons why you should purchase a Long-Term Care Insurance policy, and pay monthly premiums.

You'll be sure not to be a financial burden on your family.

You'll protect whatever level of independence you can have, paying your own way.

You'll protect your retirement assets, instead of wasting them away.

You'll be able to afford high-quality long-term health care.

You'll profit--- your investment will be very small relative to the benefits received.

All that said, preventive medicine is still your best long-term care plan.

Eat healthy, maintain a low BMI, exercise regularly, don't smoke, never drink to excess,.

Above all, maintain your passions for love and for life.

A long-term Care insurance policy is a great hedge against disaster.

Combined with a plan for ongoing good health, you can't lose.

Get coverage while it's still being offered.

Lap Band Success

After Lap-Band Surgery patients are advised by the doctor to avoid alcoholic beverages, tea, coffee, etc.

High-caloric density foods (fast food, ice cream, pretzels, chips, sweets, pastas and baked goods) defeat any weight loss surgery, yet these are the foods patients eat when suffering from so-called 'Head Hunger'.

Eating badly is the source of obesity for any patient. So, the same problem that caused obesity is still ongoing.

Though the patient knows very well that these things are forbidden, he often cannot help eating the same bad foods. This greatly lowers the rate of success of Lap-Band Surgery.

Some treatable complications following Lap-Band Surgery are nausea, vomiting, gastro esophageal reflux, stoma obstruction, constipation, dysphagia, diarrhea, and abnormal stools. Some people even have the Lap-Band Surgery removed due to complications.

Bottom line? You must start controlling your eating patterns, following Lap-Band Surgery. There's just no free ride.

Yes, Lap Band success requires the Patient to make the same changes that weight-loss requires without surgery.

But wait. Here's another possibility. One that costs nothing, and will, in fast, save a you great deal of money.

Did you know that we are all born with a lap band, from birth.

Amazing, yes? It is a band of constrictive tissue on the lower half of your face.

This natural band (that we are born with) can control food intake quite well, if the mind commands it to close at the right times.

Its that constrictive band that is called your mouth.

Warning to Parents - Don't Overdose Your Kids!

Drug overdoses among children are tragically on the rise. And the cause may not be what you think it is.

In the US, a new report by the AMA (American medical Association) warns of grave dangers to children--- by well-meaning parents dispensing OTC (over-the-counter) liquid meds to their kids.

Some of the dangers to overdosed children could include organ damage; or even, in extreme cases, death.

Why? Because parents are found to be confused, too often, by the directions.
Liquid meds are more likely than pills to be measured incorrectly and overdosed. And that's one reason why parents and caregivers often make errors, while administering OTC medications to their children.

Other reasons are poor vigilance, just plain ignorance, and sloppy dosing, right out of a bottle.

In fact, the AMA study found that a whopping 40 to 60 percent of parents put their own kids at "substantial risk!"

So what can you do? Make SURE you are right, by ALWAYS asking yourself these 3 questions before dispensing---

1) Do you really know your child's true weight?
2) Do you know how to accurately measuredly the dosage?
3) Do you understand (the chemistry and potency of ) the medication that you are putting into your child's precious body?

The AMA study examined instructions (and measuring devices, if included), for over 200 pediatric medications. Many were OTC treatments for stomach, allergies, and coughs and colds.

Measuring devices were packaged with only 74 percent (148) of the examined products. Researchers found a whopping 146 cases of inconsistencies between the medication’s dosing directions and markings on those devices!

The study shows clearly that the worst risk to kids are caregivers with 'low health literacy'.

That's one reason why MDINFO exists--- to raise health literacy.

Before you take meds, or dispense meds to your kids--- get the correct INFO!