Archive for June, 2009

Causes of sunburn

Many mechanisms and factors play role in causing sunburn. The most important factor in causation of sunburn after acute exposure to direct sunlight is the degree of melanin pigmentation (the number of melanocytes in skin) in skin. The darker the skin, the more is the number of melanocytes and the lesser effect of sun on the skin. The reason why blacks do not get sunburn or have any effect (if any effect also very minor and insignificant) of sun is presence of very large number of melanocytes with large amount of melanin pigment.

The UV spectrum of sunlight:

Ultra-violet (UV) spectrum of sunlight is the main culprit in causation of sunburn, although other wavelengths may also have some minor effects. The UV spectrum reaching the earth is arbitrarily divided into two major segments, comprising the wavelengths from 290–400 nm into UV-B (Ultra-violet-B) and UV-A (Ultra-violet).

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Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Dr Jupitor - June 30, 2009 at 3:56 pm

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Clenbuterol in Sports

Sports history is full of steroids abuse and dope scandals. Even present-day also the use and abuse of steroids is still a significant problems of sports authorities. Use of anabolic steroids for enhancing performance is against the universal brotherhood spirit of the games and sports. Many mega sports events like Olympic games are shadowed by doping scandals and in most of the cases are due to abuse of steroids.

Commonly abused steroids in sports are Stanozolol, Nandrolone, Clenbuterol, Methandrostenolone and many more. The availability of these steroids online without prescription has made it more easy to use and abuse. You can get any steroids by just clicking mouse of your computer while sitting in the comfort of your home.

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Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Dr Jupitor - June 29, 2009 at 11:18 am

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Sunburn: Acute Effect of Sun Exposure

What is sunburn?

Sunburn is painful condition of skin due to acute exposure to direct sunlight, which is caused by UV-B (ultra violet-B rays of sunlight). Skin may become colored and the epidermis part of the sunburned skin may peel off after few days. Generally the ability to tolerate sunlight is directly proportional to the degree of melanin pigmentation of individual skin i.e. the more melanin in skin the better is tolerance of sunlight. Melanin is a complex tyrosine polymer, which is synthesized by specialized epidermal dendritic cells known as melanocytes (present in epidermis or the outer layer of skin) and is packaged into melanosomes that are transferred via dendritic process into keratinocytes, thereby providing photoprotection and also causing dark color of skin. Exposure to sun also can increase the number of melanocytes (known as melanogenesis).

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Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Dr Jupitor - June 28, 2009 at 4:18 pm

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Steroid Abuse

As a group of drugs (medicines) steroids are the most abused drugs, especially in the field of sports (high performance sports like boxing, wrestling, bodybuilding, soccer, rugby, athletics etc.). Anabolic steroids are not only abused by sports persons, but are abused by doctors (supposed to have knowledge about every adverse things steroids might have and despite knowing everything about steroids they also abuse steroids), patients, teachers and members of every section of society. Every abuser of steroid has his/her own reason of abuse like body builders abuse steroids for quickly building huge muscle mass, sports persons abuse for enhancing their performance in competitions, patients abuse for fast relief of their medical problem without realizing the adverse effects (despite warning about the side effects by doctors) and so on.

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Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Dr Jupitor - at 12:13 am

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Steroids in Olympics

One of the greatest obstacle in many international sports events is the illegal (as the use of steroids is banned by many national and international sports authorities including International Olympic committee) use of steroids. But unfortunately the use of steroids are still continuing despite the ban, although in much lesser scale. Some black days of Olympics are the use of steroids by Ben Johnson in Seuol plympics (where he created world records in 100 meter sprint, but later taken away as he used steroids) as is the killing of Israeli athletes in Munich Olympics by terrorists.

Oxandrolone (Anavar), Clenbuterol, Nandrolone are the commonly used drugs in Olympians and also by many sportspersons. International Olympic Committee (IOC) started a full-scale drug testing program in the Olympics only in the year 1972. In the year 1982 only, the Testosterone/Epitestosterone ratio test was used for detecting steroids level in athletes.

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Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Dr Jupitor - June 26, 2009 at 11:25 am

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International Travel & Diabetes

A diabetic patient may face many health problems, particularly problem to maintain normal glucose level in blood. Traveler should be conscious of the problems he/she may face during international travel as well as immediately after return. Alteration in glucose control and changes in insulin requirements (especially if patient is type I diabetes which is insulin dependent diabetes) are common problems among patients with diabetes who travel.

Causes of alteration in glucose control during international travel:

Changes in time zone and jetlag can cause changes in blood glucose level during travel. Due to jetlag and time zone change, the sleep pattern of traveler with diabetes may be disturbed and cause poor control of blood glucose.

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Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Dr Jupitor - at 12:06 am

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Understanding Generic Drugs

If patent protection from a drug is removed or expires any company can manufacture and distribute (sale) it, than it becomes a generic drug. There is no difference in generic and brand name drug in its chemical structure and properties. Brand name drugs and generic drugs are same in terms of its therapeutic use, dosage, route of administration, risks and side effects, safety and strength.

There is a myth about generic drugs that they are less efficacious and poorer quality, but there is no basis in this myth. FDA accepts both as equal in terms of quality and efficacy. The FDA applies the same quality control standards for all drug manufacturing facilities, including facilities that manufacture generic drugs. Many companies manufacture both brand-name and generic drugs in the same facility with approval from FDA. In fact FDA estimates that approximately 50% of the generic drugs are produced and marketed by brand-name companies and most of them use the same manufacturing facilities for both brand-name and generic drugs.

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Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Dr Jupitor - June 25, 2009 at 4:00 pm

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Diarrhea after International Travel

Diarrhea is the leading cause of illness among travelers during international travel as well as after travel. Many international travelers suffer from diarrhea and other bowel symptoms after travel. Many other illnesses may also develop among travelers after international travel beside diarrhea.

The cause of diarrhea after international travel:

The causes of diarrhea among travelers are different during travel and after travel. During travel the commonest cause of diarrhea is “travelers’ diarrhea”, but after travel the cause is different. The most frequently identified pathogens causing travelers’ diarrhea are enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and enteroaggregative E. coli, Campylobacter infections, Salmonella (causative agent for typhoid fever and food poisoning), Shigella, rotavirus etc. The common causes of diarrhea after travel are post-infectious sequelae such as lactose intolerance or irritable bowel syndrome. But diarrhea after international travel may also be due to infectious agents such as Giardia lamblia (causative agent for giardiasis), Cyclospora cayetanensis, Entamoeba histolytica (causative agent for amebiasis), although infectious agents account for small proportion of cases with persistent bowel symptoms after travel.

A recent study showed that as many as 4-13% of the travelers may develop diarrhea and other persistent gastrointestinal or bowel symptoms after international travel.

Treatment of diarrhea or other persistent bowel symptoms after travel:

If the causative agent can be identified, it should be treated with appropriate antibiotic therapy. If no infectious etiology can be identified, a trial of metronidazole (400 mg three times a day for 5 to 7 days) therapy for presumed giardiasis and a strict lactose-free diet for 1 week is given or a several-week trial of high-dose hydrophilic mucilloid. The above strategy of treatment is successful in many cases.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Dr Jupitor - at 12:13 am

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Benefits of Generic Drugs

Generic drugs are the drugs which can be produced and sold without the protection of patent, which means any company can start production of generic drugs with permission from a patented party. The freedom from patent has made generic drugs cheaper by several times in compare to patented drugs of same group.

The advantages of generic drugs:

1. Generic drugs can be very cheap, which makes treatment affordable, especially in developing countries.

2. There is no need of permission from a patented party. Any company with capability to produce can start production and start distribution.

3. No procedural delays for production and distribution.

A generic must contain the same active ingredients as the original formulation of the drug. USFDA defines generic drug as “a drug that is identical or bioequivalent to the brand name counterpart in respect to pharmacodynamics (what a drug does to the human body) and pharmacokinetics (what the body does to the drug after taking it or in other words what is the metabolism of the drug). So generic drugs are identical in dose, strength, route of administration, safety, efficacy, and therapeutic use. A drug becomes generic when patent protection afforded to a company expires.

There are many drugs which are now generic drug. Examples of generic drugs are first generation anti-histaminics and many more. Many drugs including many generic drugs are available online these days. You can buy generic as well as patented drugs online. Some drugs like avodart (dutesteride) are extensively sole over the net, online. You can buy avodart online. It is used for treatment of BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia), which commonly occurs in older men and cause difficulty in passing urine.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Dr Jupitor - June 24, 2009 at 11:14 am

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Steroids in Sports

Steroids have been used and abused in sports since the discovery of steroids and the discovery of the capability to enhance the performance in sports by steroids, although there are unacceptable side effects of steroids if abused (which is generally the case in sports). International sports authorities like IAAF (international association of athletics federations) have banned the use of steroids in sports, but even after banning the use of steroids some sportspersons are still using them and some of them are spoiling their own carrier.

Clinically steroids are used in many clinical conditions and if used properly they are life saving drugs. But if misused or abused they can cause great harm to the health of the user. Steroids should be used by professional doctors and in appropriate time and dose, but if used indiscriminately without proper knowledge about steroids, they cause irreparable organ damage.

Commonly used steroid in sports are Deca Durabolin (Nandrolone), Winstrol (Stanozolol), Anavar (oxandrolone) etc. and many more are also used.

Nandrolone or Deca Durabolin causes increase in muscle mass and increase in red cell count of blood (thus increase stamina during high performance games and sports). It is sometimes used in treatment of certain types of anemia, osteoporosis in post menopausal women, breast cancer etc.

Winstrol (Stanozolol) is also another steroid which is used in sports, although illegal by international sports regulation. Winstrol is available as tablet (whereas other anabolic steroids are available as injection form) as it is well absorbed orally. It also increases stamina and so used in sports for better performance.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Dr Jupitor - at 12:03 am

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