Cancer Chemotherapy

Posted by ideviate on Feb 13, 2010 in Health | 14 comments

Cancer is a disease characterized by a shift in the control mechanisms that govern cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Cells that have undergone neoplastic transformation usually express cell surface antigens that may be of normal fetal type, may display other signs of apparent immaturity, and may exhibit qualitative or quantitative chromosomal abnormalities, including various translocations and the appearance of amplified gene sequences. Such cells proliferate excessively and form local tumors that can compress or invade adjacent normal structures. A small subpopulation of cells within the tumor can be described as tumor stem cells. They retain the ability to undergo repeated cycles of proliferation as well as to migrate to distant sites in the body to colonize various organs in the process called metastasis. Such tumor stem cells thus can express clonogenic or colony-forming capability. Tumor stem cells are characterized by chromosome abnormalities reflecting their genetic instability, which leads to progressive selection of subclones that can survive more readily in the multicellular environment of the host. Quantitative abnormalities in various metabolic pathways and cellular components accompany this neoplastic progression. The invasive and metastatic processes as well as a series of metabolic abnormalities resulting from the cancer cause illness and eventual death of the patient unless the neoplasm can be eradicated with treatment.

Antioxidants and treatment of diseases

Posted by ideviate on Feb 12, 2010 in Health, Science | 8 comments

What are antioxidants?

An antioxidant is a molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals, which start chain reactions that damage cells. Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing free radical intermediates, and inhibit other oxidation reactions by being oxidized themselves.

As oxidative stress might be an important part of many human diseases, the use of antioxidants in pharmacology is intensively studied, particularly as treatments for stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. However, it is unknown whether oxidative stress is the cause or the consequence of disease. Antioxidants are also widely used as ingredients in dietary supplements in the hope of maintaining health and preventing diseases such as cancer and coronary heart disease. Although some studies have suggested antioxidant supplements have health benefits, other large clinical trials did not detect any benefit for the formulations tested, and excess supplementation may be harmful. In addition to these uses in medicine, antioxidants have many industrial uses, such as preservatives in food and cosmetics and preventing the degradation of rubber and gasoline.

Cancer is a Genetic Disease

Posted by ideviate on Feb 7, 2010 in Health, Science | 0 comments

The role of somatic mutations in cancer was debated for many years. Witkowski (1990) puts that historical debate in context with a comprehensive time line of developments in cancer research interleaved with developments in basic genetics and molecular biology.

Boveri (1914, 1929) often gets credit for the first comprehensive theory of somatic genetic changes in cancer progression (Wunderlich 2002). Tyzzer (1916) used the term “somatic mutation” to describe events in cancer progression. In the 1950s, Armitage and Doll (1954, 1957) cautiously described the stages of multistage progression as possibly resulting from somatic mutations but perhaps arising from other causes. Burdette (1955), in a comprehensive review of the role of genetic mutations in carcinogenesis, tended to oppose the central role of mutations in progression. In (1969), Fould’s extensive summary of cancer progression also downplayed the role of mutation.

Reducing your sleep

Posted by ideviate on Feb 5, 2010 in Featured, Health | 11 comments

As you recall, during jet lag we travel over several time zones. If we travel 2 time zones to the West, our body temperature rhythm will still be set to 2 hours ahead. In response we feel out of place and it takes a while for our body temperature rhythm to adjust to the new time zone.

In the same way, when we try to reduce the amount of time we spend sleeping, it takes a while for our bodies to adjust to the new sleeping time. The main challenge with reducing sleeping is understanding how sleep works, which we have over-come by going through all this information together. The second challenge is people tend to misread their bodies. If you feel tired and drowsy during the day ask yourself this question: “Am I tired right now because I need sleep? Or is it because of the way I’m living my life or acting at the current moment?” Even if you take a highly energetic person and place them in front of a TV for 2 hours, they WILL GET TIRED! This is why it’s important to realize that increasing your daily energy levels is as important as decreasing your sleep, they work together. This post gives you introductory information about how to reduce your sleep.