This goes without saying that ACEP strongly believes in educating regulators and policymakers as emergency medicine represents only 2 percent of the health care expenditures.  The demands of emergency have been growing rapidly over past few decades due to increasing population and emergency visits.

Sudden death in people under age 35, often due to hidden heart defects or overlooked heart abnormalities, is rare. These sudden deaths often occur during physical activity, such as a sporting event. Of those sudden cardiac arrests, very few occur in young people, and only some of those young people die from sudden cardiac arrest. The causes of sudden cardiac death in young people vary. About two-thirds of the time, a coroner discovers during an autopsy that the death was due to a heart abnormality. For a variety of reasons, something — such as a structural heart defect — causes the heart to beat out of control. This abnormal heart rhythm is known as ventricular fibrillation.

Sudden death from cardiac arrest is a major health problem that’s received much less publicity than heart attack.

Some specific causes of sudden cardiac death in young people include:

* Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can also cause death in young people due to abnormal heart rhythms called arrhythmias. This is a disease in which the heart muscle (myocardium) becomes abnormally thick, making it harder for the heart to pump blood. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, while usually not fatal in most people, is the most common cause of heart-related sudden death in people under 30. The symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are difficulty breathing, heart palpations, chest pain, and light headedness and dizziness that can lead to fainting. It’s the most common cause of sudden death in athletes. HCM often goes undetected.

* Anomalous coronary artery (ACA). Sometimes people are born with heart arteries that are connected abnormally to the heart. Anomalous coronary artery is a congenital disorder that can cause sudden death in young people. The arteries can become compressed during exercise and not provide proper blood flow to the heart. Symptoms to look for include: irritability, disinterest in food, labored breathing, sweating, pale skin, stunted growth and heart failure. Afflicted persons may also experience chest pain, dizziness and fainting spells. ACA is one of the top causes of sudden death in young athletes.

*Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. Approximately 15,000 people in the United States annually die from an abdominal aortic aneurysm. An aneurysm is caused because part of the artery wall is damaged or weakened. In this condition the aneurysm occurs in the abdominal aorta. Without symptoms, this area then balloons and bursts causing sudden death.

Stroke

A stroke, or an acute cerebrovascular attack, is a medical emergency that can cause permanent neurological damage, complications or death. It is caused by a sudden loss of blood supply to a portion of the brain, causing brain cells  to die rapidly. When blood flow to the brain is impaired, oxygen and glucose cannot be delivered to the brain.

Certain behaviors and lifestyles greatly affect your risk for a stoke.

* Among the other health implications of smoking, the habit can harden arteries, create blood clots and provoke heart disease. All of these conditions increase the risk of a stroke.
* Hypertension can cause hemorrhaging of vessels in the brain, cutting off blood supply.
* Atherosclerotic blood vessels can develop blood clots. The narrowed vessels cannot pass the clot, causing a blockage. If the blockage passes, it can travel up to the brain’s blood vessels, producing the increased risk for aneurysm or stroke.
*  In people with diabetes, many vessels can develop blockages, making the blood unable to go around a blockage or hemorrhage by an alternate route.
*  With age comes the degradation of the body. Blood vessels harden, cholesterol builds up and heart disease becomes prevalent.

Blood flow can be compromised by a variety of mechanisms.

Blockage of an artery
* Blockage of a single arteriole can affect a tiny area of brain causing that tissue to die (infarct).
* Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) leading to the brain. There are four major blood vessels that supply the brain with blood.  If these arteries become narrow as a result of atherosclerosis, plaque or cholesterol, debris can break off and float downstream, clogging the blood supply to a part of the brain.
* Embolism to the brain from the heart. In situations in which blood clots form within the heart, the potential exists for small clots to break off and travel (embolize) to the arteries in the brain and cause a stroke.

Rupture of an artery (hemorrhage)
* Cerebral hemorrhage (bleeding within the brain substance). The most common reason to have bleeding within the brain is uncontrolled high blood pressure. Other situations include aneurysms that leak or rupture or arteriovenous malformations (AVM) in which there is an abnormal collection of blood vessels that are fragile and can bleed

Aneurysm
An aneurysm is a bulge in a blood vessel that is caused by a weakness in the blood vessel wall. As the blood passes through the weakened part of the vessel, the blood pressure causes it to bulge outwards like a balloon.

If the aneurysm grows too big, there is a danger that it will rupture (split) which can cause potentially fatal internal bleeding and organ damage.
Types of aneurysms

An aneurysm can develop anywhere in the body but the two most common types of aneurysms are:

* an intracranial aneurysm (also known as a cerebral aneurysm), which develops inside the brain.
* an aortic aneurysm, which develops inside the aorta. The aorta is a large blood vessel that runs down the abdomen and transports blood away from the heart.

Arteries have thick walls to withstand normal blood pressure. However, certain medical problems, genetic conditions, and trauma can damage or injure artery walls. The force of blood pushing against the weakened or injured walls can cause an aneurysm. An aneurysm can grow large and burst (rupture) or cause a dissection. Rupture causes dangerous bleeding inside the body. A dissection is a split in one or more layers of the artery wall. The split causes bleeding into and along the layers of the artery wall.

A rupture in an intracranial aneurysm or an aortic aneurysm can have a potentially devastating effect on the body. A ruptured intracranial aneurysm can lead to blood leaking out over the surface of the brain. This is known as a subarachnoid haemorrhage. The blood can cause brain damage and lead to a reduction in blood supply that, in turn, can cause further brain damage. Without emergency treatment, a subarachnoid haemorrhage will usually result in death. A ruptured aortic aneurysm can cause massive internal bleeding. Without emergency treatment, a ruptured aortic aneurysm will result in death.

Accidental death

Refers to an unintentional death. Accidental death can be caused by machinery, medical and surgical complications, gas poisoning, firearms, drowning and motor vehicle accidents. ..

Injury

Injury or bodily injury is damage or harm caused to the structure  or function  of the body  caused by an outside agent or force, which may be physical or chemical, and either by accident  or intentional. Personal Injury also refers to damage caused to the reputation of another rather than physical harm to the body. A severe and life-threatening injury is referred to as a physical trauma. Serious bodily injury is any injury or injuries to the body that substantially risks death of the victim.

Reference:

Text: Best Health Secret Copyrighted;   Photo Source:  1

Shiitake Lentinula  edodes

Shiitake is native to East Asia, specifically China. The species has been cultivated for over a thousand years in both China and Japan. Its good flavor and pleasant texture contribute to continued growth in consumer demand and expanding cultivation. Shiitake mushroom is one of the most popular mushrooms in the world. The shiitake contains abundant protein, microelement, vitamin, etc. Many kinds of nutritional components that human body needed. The shiitake protein contains 18 kinds of aminophenol, among which 9 kinds are necessary to human body.

Scientists have isolated substances from Shiitake which may play a role in the cure and prevention of heart disease, cancer, and AIDS. It exhibits strong immune responses and has been extensively studied for use with cancers and viral infections. Shiitake Mushrooms contain a polysaccharide called “lentinan” that has proven to stop or slow the growth of cancerous tumors in animals. Another component, activated hexose-containing compound, is also said to reduce tumor activity and lessen the side effects of cancer treatment. The mushrooms also contain the compound eritadenine, which is thought to lower cholesterol by blocking the way cholesterol is absorbed into the bloodstream. This mushroom contains a variety of constituents that have demonstrated many actions including anti-tumor, liver protecting, anti-viral, immune modulation, and blood pressure lowering. Its extract is a powerful anti-fungal agent, used effectively to treat candida albicans. It is thought that lentinan enhances the immune system’s ability to fight infection.

Silver-Ear Tremella  fuciformis

This species produces a white, lobed, irregularly shaped fruiting body. It is a species that has been long utilized as a “herb” to cure many ailments. In old pharmacological, Chinese books, it is said to cure tuberculosis, high blood pressure, the common cold and to extend life expectancy. However, it is also considered a delicacy and, prior to its cultivation, was affordable only for the tables of the rich.

It  is a rich source of dietary fiber and vitamin D. And used as a nerve tonic and a skin tonic for healthy complexions. It is also very rich in Dietary Fiber. According to traditional Chinese medicine Tremella fuciformis nourishes the lung, stomach and kidney, strengthens the bones, helps maintain ideal weight. Other function of Tremella fuciformis are Anti-oxidization, restrain hepatitis, reduce bolld sugar and etc.

Hoelen Poria cocos

Poria cocos is a very old and widely used herb especially in Chinese medicine. Poria cocos has been traditionally used as a tonic to benefit the internal organs. Also known as the Indian potatoe as European settlers saw American Indians digging the mushroom out of the ground. Uses: sooths the heart, strengthens and increases vital energy and calms agitation; anti-tumor; diuretic and is known to cure edema; anti-inflammatory activity that may be useful for psoriasis. Poria cocos also lowers blood sugar levels, and has anti-bacterial, immunotonic and anti-cancer effects. Its different parts have different functions.

Cordyceps Cordyceps sinensis

Cordyceps is a genus of ascomycete fungi that includes about 400 described species. All Cordyceps species are endoparasitoids, mainly on insects and other arthropods (they are thus entomopathogenic fungi); a few are parasitic on other fungi. Cordyceps is a diverse supplement. It is used to promote energy and endurance, as well as for issues relating to respiratory health, kidney health, immune health, occasional fatigue and adrenal fatigue.

.

.

Reishi Ganoderma lucidum Reishi mushrooms

Reishi mushrooms grow wild on decaying logs and tree stumps in the coastal provinces of China. The fruiting body of the mushroom is employed medicinally. Reishi occurs in six different colors, but the red variety is most commonly used and commercially cultivated in North America, China, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea. Reishi contains several constituents, including sterols, coumarin, mannitol, polysaccharides, and triterpenoids called ganoderic acids. Ganoderic acids seem to help lower blood pressure as well as decrease low density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride levels. These specific triterpenoids also help to reduce blood platelets from sticking together—an important factor in lowering the risk for coronary artery disease.

Most Beautiful Mushrooms
This is not a mushroom you want to mess around with

]]> http://www.besthealthsecret.com/mushrooms-who-found-their-purpose-in-medicine/feed/ 0 http://www.besthealthsecret.com/snake-whose-venom-is-used-in-medicine/ http://www.besthealthsecret.com/snake-whose-venom-is-used-in-medicine/#comments Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:12:45 +0000 Admin http://www.besthealthsecret.com/?p=209 Preliminary research shows a natural compound in some snake venoms may prevent the growth of cancerous tumors, potentially transforming one of nature’s deadliest toxins into a curative agent. Snakes use venom to alter biological functions, and that’s what medicine does too. This is why venoms have always been of interest to medical researchers.  Of the nearly 3,000 species of snakes in the world, about 650 are venomous. Ten of the most deadly live in Australia. Venoms are exquisitely complex, composed of as many as a hundred different peptides, enzymes, and toxins. Not only are the venoms of every snake species different, there are also subtle variations within each species.

Malayan pit viper

This snake has long fangs, is ill-tempered, and is responsible for many bites. Its venom is hemotoxic, destroying blood cells and tissue, but a victim’s chances of survival are good with medical aid. This viper is a ground dweller that moves into many areas in search of food. The greatest danger is in stepping on the snake with bare feet.

The venom of the Malayan Pit viper has been found to have important medical significance. Researchers discovered that the blood of people who had been bitten by this snake did not clot normally for several days thereafter. A protein in the venom triggers this anti-platelet activity. Medical researchers recognized that this side effect of the venom might have benefit in the treatment of stroke victims. Hence, the venom became the focus of research for the development of pharmaceutical products.  A purified form of Malayan Pit Viper venom, registered with the trademark “Arvin”, has been used successfully to thin blood. Not only does it dissolve blood clots, it also triggers the human body’s own clot dissolving mechanism. Drugs derived from the Malayan Pit Viper venom differ from other therapies in as much as the previous drugs had to be administered within three hours of the onset of the stroke. Drugs manufactured from this snake’s venom are effective when administered as long as six hours after onset of stroke, thus doubling the time frame for effective therapy.

King cobras

King cobras can reach 18 feet (5.5 meters) in length, making them the longest of all venomous snakes. When confronted, they can raise up to one-third of their bodies straight off the ground and still move forward to attack. They will also flare out their iconic hoods and emit a bone-chilling hiss that sounds almost like a growling dog.

Their venom is not the most potent among venomous snakes, but the amount of neurotoxin they can deliver in a single bite—up to two-tenths of a fluid ounce (seven milliliters)—is enough to kill 20 people, or even an elephant. Fortunately, king cobras are shy and will avoid humans whenever possible, but they are fiercely aggressive when cornered.  Today, Cobra venom is being studied for treating various forms of pain, cancers, autoimmune and neurological disorders. The Nutra Pharma subsidiary, ReceptoPharm, and other researchers have definitively proven that cobra venom contains constituents that control pain and inflammation. Researchers in China are examining the possibility that cobra venom can be used to treat drug addiction. The National Cancer Institute in Italy has participated in Chinese clinical trials to assess the efficacy of Cobra toxins in controlling post operative pain and moderate to severe cancer pain.

Black mamba

The Black Mamba is the most deadly snake in the world. They grow 14 feet in length, and can travel at speeds of up to 12 mph. They have a head shaped like a coffin. The Black Mamba is not actually black. They have a brownish-gray body with a light belly and brownish scales along its back. It gets its name from the color of the lining of its mouth, which is purple-black, and which it displays when threatened.

Black Mambas venom contains powerful, fast-acting neurotoxins and cardiotoxins, including calciseptine.  Calcoseptine contains 60 amino acids with four disulfide bonds and is one of the main culprits for the Black Mambas prey to stop pumping blood through its veins.  If the victim does not receive medical attention, symptoms rapidly progress to severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath), and paralysis. Eventually, the victim experiences convulsions, respiratory arrest, coma, and then death. Without antivenom, the mortality rate is nearly 100%, the highest among venomous snakes. The venom of what some consider the fastest snake in the world is of special interest to the medical community and has been used in at least one pharmaceutical medicine called Calciseptine. The therapeutic value of the Black Mamba venom is said to be an inhibitor of cardiac contractions and a smooth muscle relaxant.

Inland taipan

Although the inland taipan has the most lethal venom of any snake in the world, it is placid and shy. However, if cornered and/or provoked, it holds it’s body in low, flat, S-shaped curves with it’s head pointed straight at the disturber. It usually makes a single bite, or a few fast ones.

The Inland Taipan has neurotoxic venom that could potentially kill an adult human in 45 minutes. There have been no documented human fatalities; bites were treated using antivenom. The venom of the inland taipan is primarily neurotoxic, so bites result in overwhelming effects on the nervous system. This may include in rapid respiratory paralysis, and death. Although they are rarely encountered, because of their secretive life habits, these are truly one of the most dangerous snakes in the world. Taipans are ‘milked’ of their venom by getting them to inject venom into a jar through a rubber cover. The venom is used to make medicine to help save people who are bitten by a taipan. The procoagulants in the venom of the inland taipan are used to activate prothrombin to alpha thrombin. The anticoagulants are used to prevent interference of immunoglobins which interfere with phospholipid dependent in vitro coagulation tests.

Snake venoms have great potential for medical use because of the wide variety of compounds they contain and the specific action of each compound . Although no medical preparation derived directly from snake venom is used now in the United States , a few such compounds are used in Asia , Europe , and Latin America for treatment of blood disorders . Nowhere is a whole venom used as a medicine ; instead , specific components are extracted .
Beat-blockers-drugs widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases-owe their discovery to research on Bothrops venoms . These venoms contain a peptide that interrupts the activity of an enzyme involved in hypertension (high blood pressure) . Two analgesics derive from cobra venom : Cobroxin is used like morphine to block nerve transmission , and Nyloxin reduces severe arthritis pain . Arvin , an extract of the Malayan pitviper (Calloselasma) , is an effective anticoagulant (it inhibits the formation of blood cloths) .
Venom components are also used in basic research in physiology , biochemistry , and immunology . By retarding or speedin

Chemdog

The newest powerhouse of the Kush/Diesel family, Chemdog’s potency is the stuff of legend. Smell is Very fuely and strong, taste similar to how it smells, fuely with a lemony diesel kick. With glaucoma sufferers in particular praising its qualities for relieving eye pressure.
Price: 1 pound: $5500-6500

Island Sweet Skunk

The Island Sweet Skunk has been grown on Vancouver Island in BC for many years as a stabelized Sativa-Skunk cross.The ISS has sugary fat buds with long, thick hairs that turn golden orange after the 6th week. Tall vigorous growth with a dramatic increase n bud density for the last 3 weeks of it’’s flower cycle. This strain has been tested at 19.6% THC when finished, making it a major favorite amongst the medical community, as it takes less to properly medicate. Admired for its strong Sativa like high, the ISS has a very unique taste and odour that stands out from any other strain we’ve ever come across.
Price: 1 pound: $3500-4200

Sour Diesel

One of the most potent marijuana strains that currently exists. It has won the cannabis cup several times and the High Times Plant of the Year award in 2005. Sour Diesel taste combined with its effects may be considered an “extreme sport” version of cannabis. The stone pulls smokers into the sky fast with a viscerally uplifting pleasure and lots of consciousness expansion in the direction of spirituality. This good-vibe variety may help alleviate chronic depression, as well as the ordinary blahs by encouraging a change in perspective.
Price: 1 pound: $5800-6800

Trainwreck

Trainwreck is a very strong sativa with a great head high. Sorta on the plain looking side but its pretty impressive, long red/orange hairs just covered in crystals, stinking with that great pine smell with a deep citrus kick. Taste is sour and piny. Patients suffering from nausea, headaches or chronic pain call it a godsend.
Price: 1 pound: $4000-4500

Jack Herer

Nice sized buds with lots of glands full of sweet THC.  The hairs are blood red. Smell is musky and extremely lemony, taste slight tingle in the back of the throat, but otherwise very smooth.  The smoke has a lemon flavor.  It is very enjoyable without being overpowering. Users claim this strain is a very good appetite stimulant.
Price: 1 pound: $4200-4800

Kali Mist

Kali Mist outdoor cannabis sativa seeds from Serious Seeds. With 90% sativa genetices, Kali Mist grows into tall, classically sativa plants with very few leaves. Actually smells somewhat like oranges. Users of the Kali Mist say it possesses increased mental upliftment yet a relaxed “body high,” qualities that sufferers of spasm and anxiety find very helpful.
Price: 1 pound: $4600-5000

Sweet Tooth

This is the ultimate Sativa/Indica hybrid. It’s a high yielding, sweet and powerful plant that gives a perfect blend of both a high and stoned effect. Thi train has become popular due to its high resin count and a sugary taste on the tongue. Users claim it provides relief from stress and tension.
Price: 1 pound: $3800-4600

NYC Diesel

NYC Diesel (New York City Diesel) is a new strain, fast becoming a classic, with its roots in the Big Apple.  NYC Diesel is famous for its exotic smell and taste. Buds are compact and produce a strong smell of grapefruits that can drown out other smells in a grow room.  The plants produce an almost diesel fuel smell, hence the name. Users claim the scent of ripe grapefruit with hints of cinammon and cardamom provide a calming aromatherapy.
Price: 1 pound: $4800-5400

In MS, the immune system attacks the central nervous system. The new treatment, called GIFT15, is composed of two proteins, GSM-CSF and interleukin-15, that are fused in the lab. Normally, the individual proteins act to stimulate the immune system, but when they’re stuck together, the proteins suppress immune response, the researchers explained.

They do this by converting B-cells — a type of white blood cell normally involved in immune response — into immune suppressive cells.

“GIFT15 can take your normal, run-of-the-mill B-cells and convert them … into these super-powerful B-regulatory cells,” study team leader Dr. Jacques Galipeau, of the Jewish General Hospital Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and McGill University in Montreal, said in a university news release.

He and his colleagues took normal B-cells from mice and sprinkled GIFT15 on the B-cells. “And when we gave them back intravenously to mice ill with multiple sclerosis, the disease went away,” Galipeau said.

The treatment was fully effective with a single dose, and no significant side effects were seen in the mice, the researchers reported.

If you notice these kinds of changes in a loved one, consider seeking an opinion from a neurologist who specializes in movement disorders. Parkinson’s disease can be tricky to identify, and not every patient will have all the possible symptoms. So a careful clinical examination by an expert is crucial.

According to widely used guidelines from the United Kingdom Parkinson’s Disease Society Brain Bank, the first indicators of a Parkinson’s diagnosis are sign number 1 and at least one of signs number 2 through 4:

1. The person moves very slowly and seems clumsier.

2. The person’s hand or leg shakes when in a resting position.

3. The person complains about feeling stiff or sore.

4. The person has been tripping or is unsteady on her feet.

5. The problems start on one side of the body.

6. The person’s handwriting has changed.

7. The person seems sad and low on energy.

8. When the person walks, one arm doesn’t swing as much.

9. The person doesn’t notice odors.

10. The person’s speech is harder to hear and understand.

During a trial, the poisonous chemical in a bee’s sting, melittin, was attached to tiny molecules or “nanoparticles” that then attack and destroy cancer cells, leaving healthy cells intact. The carrier particles, dubbed “nanobees”, were also effective in targeting pre-cancerous cells.

Nanobees could eventually replace conventional therapy for certain types of cancer, according to scientists behind the study, which is published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. They said that the treatment would have fewer side-effects than chemotherapy.

“The nanobees fly in, land on the surface of cells and deposit their poisonous cargo,” said Professor Samuel Wickline, a specialist in nanomedicine at Washington University in St Louis, who led the research.

The treatment was tested on two groups of mice with cancerous tumours. One group had melanoma skin cancer, the other had been implanted with human breast-cancer cells. After four to five injections of the nanobees, the breast-cancer tumours were 25 per cent smaller, and the melanoma tumours were 88 per cent smaller, compared with untreated mice.

The carrier particles used in the study have already been approved for clinical use in various other medical applications. The team plans to begin human trials with the nanobees next year.

They predict that the treatment could be effective in treating a wide range of cancers and that it would have fewer side-effects than chemotherapy. They say the treatment could also be more effective than chemotherapy, because it is more targeted. With chemotherapy, patients are given the largest tolerable dose of medication, but because nanobees specifically attack tumours, doses could be much lower.

Melittin works by attaching itself to the surface of cells and ripping holes in the membrane. “In high enough concentration it can destroy any cell it comes into contact with,” said Professor Paul Schlesinger, a cell biologist at Washington University and a co-author of the paper.

Most cancer treatments target DNA, but cancer cells are frequently able to adapt and develop resistance to DNA damage. It is much harder for cells to defend against damage to the membrane, however, making melittin an attractive treatment.

Despite the high toxicity of the bee venom, the mice suffered few side-effects and there appeared to be little damage to non-cancerous cells.

Leaky blood vessels around tumours mean that nanoparticles build up there in high enough quantities to do damage. A chemical tag enhanced this effect by increasing nanobees’ affinity for cancerous cells compared with normal cells.

“It’s like molecular Velcro,” Professor Wickline said. “The toxin doesn’t come off the bee until it finds its target.”

If the melittin had been injected into the bloodstream in its normal form it would lead to widespread destruction of red blood cells. But following the nanobee injection, the blood count of mice was normal, and they showed no signs of organ damage.

A concern with some nanomedicines is that nanoparticles are left circulating in the body after treatment. They are biologically inert, meaning they are do not get metabolised and cleared from circulation in the normal way.

The spherical nanobees, which are about six millionths of an inch in diameter, are, however, quickly cleared from the system after treatment. They are made of perfluorocarbon, an inert non-toxic compound used in artificial blood. Once the melittin has been removed from the nanobee, it dissolves and is evaporated in the lungs.