In a medical breakthrough a man’s heart was saved through the use of a breakthrough medical technology. The man, John Christy, is the first person in the United States to undergo this procedure. The new procedure utilizes stem cells in helping repair the arteries all throughout a person’s body.Christy was suffering from coronary artery disease at a very advanced stage. What was done to him was to insert his own specific stem cells into his body during a CABG surgery. The stem cells are used to grow new blood vessels in the heart. This is a revolutionary procedure that can save millions of lives when it is further developed and become widely available.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Dengue fever Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Dengue fever is caused by one of four different but related viruses. It is spread by the bite of mosquitoes, most commonly the mosquito Aedes aegypti, which is found in tropic and subtropic regions. This includes parts of:
Indonesian archipelago into northeastern Australia
South and Central America
Southeast Asia
Sub-Saharan Africa
Dengue fever is being seen more in world travelers.
Dengue fever should not be confused with Dengue hemorrhagic fever, which is a separate disease that is caused by the same type of virus but has much more severe symptoms.
Symptoms Dengue fever begins with a sudden high fever, often as high as 104 - 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
A flat, red rash may appear over most of the body 2 - 5 days after the fever starts. A second rash, which looks like the measles, appears later in the disease. Infected people may have increased skin sensitivity and are very uncomfortable.
Other symptoms include: Headache (especially behind the eyes)
Fatigue
Joint aches Muscle aches Nausea
Swollen lymph nodes
Vomiting
Signs and tests
Tests that may be done to diagnose this condition include:
Antibody titer for dengue virus types
Complete blood count (CBC)
Serology studies to look for antibodies to dengue viruses
Treatment There is no specific treatment for dengue fever. You will need fluids if there are signs of dehydration. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is used to treat a high fever. Avoid taking aspirin.
Expectations (prognosis)
The condition generally lasts a week or more. Although uncomfortable, dengue fever is not deadly. People with the condition should fully recover.
Complications Febrile convulsions Severe dehydration
Calling your health care provider
Call your health care provider if you have traveled in an area where dengue fever is known to occur and have developed symptoms of the disease.
Prevention Clothing, mosquito repellent, and netting can help reduce exposure to mosquitoes. Traveling during periods of minimal mosquito activity can also be helpful.
Mosquito abatement programs may reduce the risk of infection.