Archive for February, 2009

Coal Worker’s Pneumoconiosis (CWP)

Occupational exposure to coal dust leads to Coal Worker’s Pneumoconiosis (CWP), which has enormous social, medical and economic importance of many countries in the world where coal mining is a major industry. About 10% of the workers in a coal mine are having Coal Worker’s Pneumoconiosis who are working in coal mine for more than 20 years, that can be diagnosed by simple X-ray and if more sophisticated equipments are used than it is much higher. The anthracite miners have more grave situation, they have more than 50% positive X-rays on plain radiography. The prevalence of Coal Worker’s Pneumoconiosis is much lower in bituminous mines and in US and most western nations the mines are of bitumen so Coal Worker’s Pneumoconiosis is less prevalent in those countries.

With prolonged exposure to coal dust for 15-20 years, small, rounded opacities similar to those of silicosis develop in Coal Worker’s Pneumoconiosis. Like in silicosis presence of small nodules in the lungs is not associated with significant problem (simple Coal Worker’s Pneumoconiosis). Almost all the symptoms of Coal Worker’s Pneumoconiosis are due to development of chronic bronchitis and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) due to effect of coal dust on lung tissue. If the patient is a smoker it acts as additive in development of Coal Worker’s Pneumoconiosis.

In complicated coal worker’s pneumoconiosis the size of lung nodule in radiograph ranges from 1 cm to the size of entire lobe that is usually seen in the upper half of lung. Like in silicosis this condition can progress to progressive massive fibrosis (PMF), that causes deficient lung function and a high mortality.

Caplan’s syndrome is one of the complication of coal miners was first described in patients of coal worker’s pneumoconiosis and was subsequently found in silicosis. The symptoms of Caplan’s syndrome include seropositive rheumatoid arthritis with characteristic pneumoconiotic nodules.

Drug Rehab: Treatment Prospect & Requirement

One of the most dangerous social evil is drug addiction in modern day society. These days of globalization no country, no society or no community is immune from drug addiction problems. Drug and alcohol addiction and its evil impact on society is prevalent throughout the world regardless of geographic region or the advancement of a nation. The drug addiction problem is present in the developed industrialized nation as well as poor and undeveloped regions. In one word the problem of drug addiction is ‘ubiquitous’.

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Weight Loss by Surgery

Losing weight for obese and overweight people may be very disturbing. It is more problematic if you can not maintain body weight within normal limit after losing it. In case of failure to maintain body weight within normal range after losing it, after using traditional weight loss techniques like a low calorie diet and regular exercise, surgery is an alternative and excellent option.

There are many weight loss surgery techniques available and one of the most popular and successful surgery is “lap band surgery”. The lap band surgery is a simple and uncomplicated surgery and takes approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour to perform the surgery. The right candidates for surgery is a person with BMI (body mass index) of more than 40 or a person with a BMI of 35 and has associated health problems related to obesity. The lap band surgery also should be conducted on an obese person for whom other weight loss strategies have failed.

Another important aspect of weight loss surgery is to choose the right and good lap band clinic for your surgery. If you choose the right lap band clinic to perform your lap band surgery you can reduce your surgical complication that may arise during surgery and also post operative complications. Post operatively you can reduce or lose your excess weight but if you are not careful about your food habits you may end up gaining weight and also many complications as well. You have to take small feed more frequently and also consume nutritious foods with a balanced diet that contains required calories, protein, fat, vitamins and all essential minerals.

But the most important thing to do is to gather all the information you can about lap band surgery, its complications, advantages and disadvantages etc. By having all the information about the surgery and the clinic and the surgical team you can make an informed decision for yourself.

Bath Bombs: an Introduction

Bath bombs or bath fizzie are used for making bath an wonderful experience. The difference between a bath bomb and bath fizzie is that bath bombs are solid form and fizzies are in grain form. Generally bath bombs are of round shape, but these days they are available in various shapes and sizes, various colors and of various scented. They can be rounded like a cricket ball, heart shape or there may be many different designs on the body of the bath bomb. Bath bombs may be of different colors like pink, rose, white, light green and may be in combination of 2 or more colors. Bath bombs are available these days in practically any imaginable color.

Bath bombs are mainly made of sodium bicarbonate (and other soluble carbonates) and citric acid. Other contents like color, scent, aroma are added as required. It usually contain 2 parts of sodium bicarbonate and 1 part of citric acid and enough water to make the powders stick together. Than other ingredients are added as required.

Bath bombs when added to bath water in a bath tub get dissolved partly or completely and effervesces. The bicarbonate which is the main part of a bath bomb comes out as carbon dioxide (which form fizz or bubbles). Because bicarbonate when react with water, it forms carbon dioxide as we see in case of soft drinks like cola. Things like scent, color etc. are added in a bath bomb during making of bath bombs.

Bath bombs are mainly used for luxurious bathing. But bath bombs are also used in aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is a form of CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) branch, which uses the aroma of some compounds for the purpose of healing. It gives sense of well being in the presence of aroma. Aromatherapy is a popular form of CAM. Bath bombs can also be used for other therapeutic purpose like by adding essential oils like mint or lavender to calm and energize the bather. Cleansing agents like surfactants and sea salt also can be added for cleansing purpose.

Contact Lenses: an Overview

Contact lenses are used for corrective (to correct refractive errors of eyes, improve vision etc.), therapeutic and cosmetic purpose. Previously there were only hard contact lenses available, but thanks to Czech chemists Otto Wichterle and Drahoslav Lim who invented present modern soft contact lenses. They also invented the gel that is used for the production of these soft contact lenses. Contact lens was first successfully fitted by Adolf Eugen Fick, a German physiologist, while working in Zurich in the year 1887. only hard contact lenses were available at first and they had many disadvantages like chances of injury to the eyes, painful, chances of infection etc.

At present 3 types of contact lenses are available soft contact lenses, hard contact lenses and gas permeable contact lenses. All have their own advantages and disadvantages. You should decide according to your requirement, which type of contact lens to use. Advantages of soft contact lenses are they are comfortable to use, allow oxygen to penetrate, they are hydrophilic and available as daily use disposable type. The disadvantage of soft contact lens is the clarity of vision is not as good as that of hard contact lenses. The advantages of hard contact lenses are, they are durable and last very long (several years), high clarity of vision etc. The disadvantages of hard contact lenses are, they are not gas permeable, can take up to few weeks to feel comfortable, an wetting solution is required, they are costly (though they last very long and at the end become cost effective). The disadvantages of gas permeable contact lenses are, they become comfortable in about 3 hours, oxygen can penetrate and clarity of vision is reasonable (in between hard and soft lenses). The disadvantages of gas permeable contact lenses are, they are expensive and often inflexible.

The disorders of eyes where contact lenses can be used are myopia (short sightedness), presbyopia (light is refracted too much to one side), astigmatism (this causes distorted curving of the images), hyperopia (far sightedness) etc.

Among the contact lenses, Acuvue contact lenses are considered to be of very good quality. They are available in many colors also, which give you a fresh look or appearance. That’s why the colored contact lenses are also called Freshlook colored contacts. At present the presence of bifocal contact lenses (used for correcting 2 types of eye problems) and disposable contact lenses have made the contact lens industry very popular. The advantages of these 2 types of contact lenses are obvious.

Silicosis

Among all the occupational diseases and pneumoconiosis, silicosis is the commonest and causes most sufferings in terms of morbidity, mortality and permanent disability. Silicosis is caused by inhalation of free silica or crystalline quartz or silicon dioxide (SiO2). The important causes of occupational exposure include mining, stone cutting, working in abrasive industries like stone, clay, glass and cement factories or working with cement; packing of silica flour, foundry work or quarrying of granite. Commonly pulmonary fibrosis occur in silicosis inn a dose dependent manner after exposure to silica for many years.

Some workers are heavily exposed to silica (sandblasting in confined spaces, tunneling in the area where quartz content is very high at 15-25%), manufacture of abrasive soaps and they can develop silicosis in less than a year of exposure. The worst thing about silicosis and other occupational lung diseases is that the progression of the disease continues even after discontinuation of exposure.

Simple silicosis develops if there is long duration and less intense exposure to silica. There appears small rounded opacities in the upper lobe of lung that can give “eggshell” appearance in simple silicosis.

The nodular fibrosis can be progressive in the absence of further exposure, with formation of non segmental conglomerates of irregular masses more than 1 cm in diameter (complicated silicosis). These masses can become very large and when this occurs it is called progressive massive fibrosis (PMF). Significant functional impairment with restrictive and obstructive components are associated with this form of silicosis.

Silica is toxic to the macrophages of alveoli and due to that patients with silicosis are more prone to respiratory infections like tuberculosis, fungal infection and infection by atypical mycobacterium. Due to high risk of active tuberculosis the treatment of tuberculosis is given for longer duration in silicosis patient than usual. Another complication of silicosis is autoimmune connective tissue disorder like rheumatoid arthritis.

International Agency for Research on Cancer includes silica as a carcinogen (causes cancer) for lung and it is supported by epidemiological data.

Other less harmful silicates are kaolin, mica, Fuller’s earth, diatomaceous earths, silica gel, soapstone, carbonate dusts, and cement dusts etc. Fibrosis is produced in the persons exposed to these dusts depends on the content of free silica in these dusts or due to heavy load of dust where free silica is absent.

There is no effective treatment available for silicosis. Only treatment is prevention by further exposure and sadly this is also not much helpful because the progression of disease continues even after exposure is stopped. Whole-lung lavage may provide symptomatic relief and slow progression.

Anti Aging Products: How Effective?

Mankind has been searching the answer to stop aging process, although any wise man can say that it is not possible to stop the natural process of aging. But man has not stopped searching for the impossible and still in search of the answer. Man has not succeeded in the getting the answer to stop aging process, but he has found some answers that are near to the main question he is searching. Man has discovered the mechanism of process of aging and found some answer to slow the aging process if not able to stop the aging process itself. Modern medical science has found some breakthrough answers to the questions of aging process.

There are many products in the market that are very good in slowing (to some extent) the aging of skin. The best anti aging creams available in the market are Lift SP, Ageless etc. These anti aging creams are very effective in slowing down the aging of skin of face. Lift SP is one of the best anti aging cream and is available as free trial and if you are in need of slowing your aging of your skin than you should try Lift SP Free Trial before accepting it. This Lift SP anti aging face cream has unique features. These features are Lift SP removes or erase wrinkles, lifts and make the face firm, there are no harmful effects, it works practically in seconds and you get instant result and look younger almost instantly. It is guaranteed for result and that is the reason it is given for free trial.

The best thing about these anti wrinkle or anti aging products is availability of these products online. So you can get it and order it for purchase or for free trial with a click of your mouse.

Acai Burn: Weight Lose Tool

There is no end to the way you can lose weight. Many are very good and successful in losing weight and many are just claims without enough scientific research and proof. So if you have to lose weight (may be due to obesity, overweight or making yourself more fit) it become very confusing as to what to do, which product or strategy to choose or which will work best for you etc. You can stop worrying about what to choose, because there are good products in the market at present and you can choose a good brand from the market. The acai berry products are well tried and well researched for the purpose of weight lose and they are very good in weight losing extra weight specially in overweight and obese people. The best thing about Acai berry products are they are very good nutrients and do not cause nutritional deficiency which may be seen in case of dieting and exercise strategy. Another good thing about the acai product is availability of these products online, so you can order any acai product with a click of you mouse.

There are many excellent acai products in the market like Acai burn, ultra acai burn and many more are very good products for weight loss programs. Only thing you have to remember while buying the acai product is that it should be from reliable reputed company. Acai burn is an excellent weight loss product and tried clinically in 8 weeks trial. Acai burn has given a result of about 6 to 7 kilogram weight loss in these 8 weeks along with diet and exercise plan but less than 2 kilogram weight loss for the placebo subjects. It can be convincingly said from the study that acai burn can cause weight loss of more that 400% in compare to diet and exercise alone.