Bedwetting

Source: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care
It is not that unusual for children and even teenagers to wet their bed sometimes, but people do not like talking about it. By the age of five, most children either sleep through the night without wetting the bed, or wake up when they feel that their bladder is full. But this routine may only develop later on: 1 out of 6 children aged five sometimes do not realize that their bladder is full until it is too late. By the time the child has woken, their bed is already wet.
Bedwetting can be very troubling – not only for the child, but also for the family – especially if it happens often. It is considered to be “bedwetting” (medical term: nocturnal enuresis) if children aged five and over still wet the bed without there being a recognizable physical cause.
This problem usually goes away on its own over time. But until that happens, there are some things that parents can do to help their child and make it easier on themselves. Systems for waking the child provide the most effective help against bedwetting over the long run, but medication can also help in the short term. Each of these approaches has its pros and cons, and some will require patience.

Chronic urinary retention

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US)
Persistent partial retention of urine or chronic urinary retention (CUR) is a common problem for which we have little understanding in terms of frequency, natural history, prognosis, or efficacy and comparative effectiveness of treatments. Also unclear are whether and when to suspect, screen, or treat patients for CUR. Standard diagnostic criteria (including the duration and volume of post-void residual [PVR] urine i.e amount of leftover residual urine) have not been established for chronic urinary retention.^{1, 2} Researchers often define CUR as PVR urine volume greater than 300 ml; however, some studies define it as 100 ml, 400 ml, or 500 ml.¹

Low back pain

Low back pain is one of the most frequently encountered conditions in clinical practice. Up to 84 percent of adults have low back pain at some time in their lives, and over one quarter of U.S. adults report recent (in the last three months) low back pain.^1,2

Low back pain can have major adverse impacts on quality of life and function; it is frequently associated with depression or anxiety.

Amblyopia in children

Normally, the brain processes the information coming in from both eyes equally. This is needed for the best possible vision.
In some children, however, one eye is favored by the brain because it provides a better image. If this happens, the other eye is neglected from childhood on, and it does not get the chance to fully develop. This is known as amblyopia or "lazy eye." Amblyopia, the medical term for lazy eye, is taken from ancient Greek and means "dull vision."

Acrylamide

Acrylamide (C3H3ONH2) is a chemical that is produced naturally in certain foods when they are cooked at high temperatures. It is also manufactured industrially for use in the production of polyacrylamide gels, which are used for various purposes, including the treatment of drinking-water and wastewater. Acrylamide is known to cause cancer in animals and, in high doses, can cause nerve damage in humans.

Filariasis

Lymphatic filariasis is infection with the filarial worms, Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi or B. timori. These parasites are transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito and develop into adult worms in the lymphatic vessels, causing severe damage and swelling (lymphoedema). Elephantiasis – painful, disfiguring swelling of the legs and genital organs – is a classic sign of late-stage disease.
The infection can be treated with drugs. However, chronic conditions may not be curable by anti-filarial drugs and require other measures, eg. surgery for hydrocele, care of the skin and exercise to increase lymphatic drainage in lymphoedema.
Annual treatment of all individuals at risk (individuals living in endemic areas) with recommended anti-filarial drugs combination of either diethyl-carbamazine citrate (DEC) and albendazole, or ivermectin and albendazole; or the regular use of DEC fortified salt can prevent occurrence of new infection and disease.

VERAMYST Nasal spray

VERAMYST ® (fluticasone furoate) Nasal Spray Initial U.S. Approval: 2007

• INDICATIONS AND USAGE

VERAMYST Nasal Spray is a corticosteroid indicated for treatment of symptoms of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis in adults and children ≥ 2 years.

Hay fever

Many children and adults are affected by hay fever in the spring and summer months, when plants grow and bloom. Hay fever is caused by higher amounts of pollen in the air. A lot of people who have allergies and asthma have more asthma attacks around this time of year too.
Some people have allergy symptoms such as sneezing and a stuffy nose all year round. This might be caused by an allergy against things like animal fur, mold or dust mites.
If someone has an allergic reaction to substances such as pollen or animal fur that affects their upper respiratory tract (upper airways), it is called “allergic rhinitis."

Bilberry

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) is one of the richest natural sources of anthocyanins. These polyphenolic components give bilberry its blue/black color and high antioxidant content, and they are believed to be the key bioactives responsible for the many reported health benefits of bilberry and other berry fruits. Although bilberry is promoted most commonly for improving vision, it has been reported to lower blood glucose, to have anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering effects, and to promote antioxidant defense and lower oxidative stress.

Antioxidant food table : Berries

Antioxidant food table: Berries and berry products


Source: The total antioxidant content of more than 3100 foods, beverages, spices, herbs and supplements used worldwide. Nutrition Journal


NB: The number at the end of the line is the amount of antioxidant in mmol/100g

Immune system

The defense system of the human body is made up of entire organs and vessel systems like the lymph vessels, but also of individual cells and proteins. The inner and outer surfaces of the body are the first barriers against pathogens (germs). These surfaces include the skin and all mucous membranes, which form a kind of mechanical protective wall. Several things support this protective wall:

Aloe vera

Evaluation of the Nutritional and Metabolic Effects of Aloe vera . Meika Foster, Duncan Hunter, and Samir Samman. 

3.1. INTRODUCTION

Aloe vera has a long history of popular and traditional use. It is used in traditional Indian medicine for constipation, colic, skin diseases, worm infestation, and infections (Heber 2007). It is also used in Trinidad and Tobago for hypertension (Lans 2006) and among Mexican Americans for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM; Coronado et al. 2004). In Chinese medicine, it is often recommended in the treatment of fungal diseases (Heber 2007). In Western society, Aloe vera is one of the few herbal medicines in common usage, and it has found widespread use in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food industries. In the case of health, the therapeutic claims for the topical and oral application of Aloe vera cover a wide range of conditions, but few claims have been the subject of robust clinical investigation. The conditions for which clinical trials of Aloe vera have been conducted include skin conditions, management of burn and wound healing, constipation, DM, and gastrointestinal disorders.

Gemzar

Gemcitabine is used to treat pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and lung cancer, and may be used for other cancers as well.
Gemcitabine is a member of a group of chemotherapy drugs known as anti-metabolites. It prevents cells from making DNA, which stops cell growth and causes the cells to die.

Pancreas Cancer

The most common type of cancer of the pancreas is an adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. 85% of all cancerous tumors of the pancreas are adenocarcinomas. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the 4th leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that each year 29,000 American are diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas and approximately 28,000 die of pancreatic cancer.

Abraxane

What is Abraxane?

Abraxane is a powder that is made up into a suspension for infusion (drip into a vein). It contains the active substance paclitaxel attached to a human protein called albumin.
It's used to treat metastatic breast cancer and metastatic cancer of the pancreas.

Pompe disease

Pompe disease is an inherited, neuromuscular condition that causes muscle weakness in people of all ages. Symptoms may first occur at any time from infancy to adulthood. Pompe is also known as acid maltase deficiency or glycogen storage disease type 2.

Abseamed

Abseamed is a solution for injection. It is available in pre-filled syringes that contain between 1,000 and 40,000 international units (IU) of the active substance, epoetin alfa.
Abseamed is a ‘biosimilar medicine'. This means that Abseamed is similar to and contains the same active substance as a biological medicine that is already authorised in the European Union (EU), which is known as the ‘reference medicine’. The reference medicine for Abseamed is Eprex/Erypo.
Abseamed is used to treat anemia.

Hydroxyurea

What is sickle cell syndrome?

Sickle cell syndrome is a group of inherited diseases caused by a mutation in a blood protein called haemoglobin. The mutation leads to changes in the shape and behaviour of red blood cells. They become hard, sticky and shaped in the form of a sickle (the sharp hooks used to cut the wheat). This causes small blood clots that block blood flow, and cause repeated painful episodes, called crisis. In the long run, this causes severe damage to the organs in the body. The clinical picture of patients with sickle cell syndrome can be remarkably different. Some patients remain virtually without complaints, while others suffer repeated crises requiring admission to hospital from early childhood. The prototype disease in the sickle cell syndrome group, is the sickle cell anaemia, which is at the same time the most common and severe in the group.

Cerezyme

What is Cerezyme?

Cerezyme is a powder that is made up into a solution for infusion (a drip into a vein). It contains the active substance imiglucerase. It is used for the treatment of Gaucher disease.

Vpriv

Vpriv is a powder that is made up into a solution for infusion (a drip into a vein). It contains the active substance velaglucerase alfa and is used to treat Gaucher disease.

Zavesca

What is Zavesca?

Zavesca is a medicine that contains the active substance miglustat used to treat Gaucher disease and Niemann-Pick type-C disease. It is available as capsules (100 mg).

Glivec

What is Glivec?

Glivec is a medicine that contains the active substance imatinib. It is available as capsules (50 and 100 mg) and tablets (100 and 400 mg).

Wegener granulomatosis

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) is a rare blood vessel disease. It can cause symptoms in the sinuses, lungs and kidneys as well as other organs. This is a complex and potentially serious disease. However, with prompt diagnosis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis—also called GPA can be treated effectively.

Xeroderma pigmentosum

Xeroderma pigmentosum (literally dry pigmented skin), is defined by extreme sensitivity to sunlight, resulting in sunburn, pigment changes in the skin and a greatly elevated incidence of skin cancers. About 60% of affected individuals show an exaggerated and prolonged sunburn response. In a minority of cases there are neurological abnormalities of varying severity. Historically, the disorder was classified originally as "classical XP" (skin abnormalities only) and the De-Sanctis-Cacchione syndrome with skin abnormalities and extreme neurological degeneration. The latter term is currently rarely used as it is evident that there is a wide range of neurological abnormalities of varying severity and varying age of onset. Thus, the complete De Sanctis-Cacchione syndrome is present in only very few cases, but several patients have one or more neurological features.

Xeroderma pigmentosum

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is defined by extreme sensitivity to sunlight, resulting in sunburn, pigment changes in the skin and a greatly elevated incidence of skin cancers.
More about Xeroderma pigmentosum

Xeroderma pigmentosum (in short)

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is defined by extreme sensitivity to sunlight, resulting in sunburn, pigment changes in the skin and a greatly elevated incidence of skin cancers.

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) is characterized by severe peptic disease (ulcers/esophageal disease) caused by hypergastrinemia secondary to a gastrinoma resulting in increased gastric acid secretion.
A gastrinoma is a tumor in the pancreas or duodenum that secretes excess of gastrin leading to ulceration in the duodenum, stomach and the small intestine.
More about Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) is characterized by severe peptic disease (ulcers/esophageal disease) caused by hypergastrinemia secondary to a gastrinoma resulting in increased gastric acid secretion.
A gastrinoma is a tumor in the pancreas or duodenum that secretes excess of gastrin leading to ulceration in the duodenum, stomach and the small intestine.

Von Recklinghausen disease

Von Recklinghausen disease or Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a clinically heterogeneous, neurocutaneous, genetic disorder characterized by café-au-lait spots, iris Lisch nodules, axillary and inguinal freckling, and multiple neurofibromas (benign nerve sheath tumors).

More about Von Recklinghausen disease or Neurofibromatosis type 1

Von Recklinghausen disease

Von Recklinghausen disease or Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a clinically heterogeneous, neurocutaneous, genetic disorder characterized by café-au-lait spots, iris Lisch nodules, axillary and inguinal freckling, and multiple neurofibromas (benign nerve sheath tumors).

Von Hippel-Lindau disease

Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) is a familial cancer predisposition syndrome associated with a variety of malignant and benign neoplasms, most frequently retinal, cerebellar, and spinal hemangioblastoma, renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and pheochromocytoma.

Pheochromocytoma

Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor that usually starts in the cells of one of your adrenal glands (glands on top of the kidneys).

Their frequency is about 0.1% in patients with hypertension and 4% in patients with a fortuitously discovered adrenal mass.

The cause is unknown although valuable information has recently been provided by work on the genomics of familial diseases including these tumors.

Although they are usually benign, pheochromocytomas often cause the adrenal gland to make too many hormones (dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine). This can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes and cause symptoms such as

• Headaches
• Sweating
• Pounding of the heart (palpitations)
• Being shaky
• Being extremely pale
• Weight loss

Sometimes pheochromocytoma is part of another condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome (MEN) and von Hippel-Lindau disease. People with MEN often have other cancers and other problems involving hormones.

Doctors use lab tests and imaging tests to diagnose it.
The purpose of pre-operative imaging tests is to locate the tumor, ascertain whether it is single or multiple, adrenal or ectopic (outside the adrenal gland), benign or malignant, and isolated or present with other neoplasms (tumors) in the context of familial syndromes. 

Surgery is the most common treatment. Other options include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Targeted therapy uses substances that attack cancer cells without harming normal cells.

Source: Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases