What is Myelomeningocele and how does it affect my baby? Myelomeningocele (MMC), one of the most severe forms of spina bifida, is a condition where the fetus’ spinal cord fails to close during development. This happens between 20 and 28 days of gestation, often before a woman knows she is pregnant. Because the spinal cord does not close, many of the nerves are exposed, resulting in damage to the cord as the pregnancy continues. Spina bifida can impact the nervous system, bones and muscles, kidneys and bladder. The location on the spine where the undeveloped area occurs is called the level of the spina bifida. Because nerve damage at this site prevents function below that level, the higher the level, the greater the impact on normal development and function. The opening in the spinal cord also results in loss of the fluid surrounding the nervous system. This causes the brain to be positioned further down into the upper spinal column than normal, which is called an Arnold Chiari II malformation. When this happens, the normal flow of fluid out of the brain is obstructed, causing Hydrocephalus, an excess of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain. After birth, most children with Hydrocephalus need to have the extra fluid shunted out of the brain into the abdomen via a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. MMC affects about 1 in every 1,000 babies, and it ranges in severity. Some children, with mild cases very low on the spinal cord, can function nearly normally. More severe cases can cause leg weakness and paralysis, as well as Hydrocephalus, and the Arnold Chiari malformation. People with MMC often live long lives, especially if the condition is diagnosed and treated early. How is Myelomeningocele diagnosed? At about 15 weeks gestation, a blood test measuring the levels of alpha-fetoprotein can show the physician that there might be a problem. After that, an ultrasound is performed to detect the MMC, but also to detect the conditions that can result from it, such as Hydrocephalus, the Chiari malformation, and any problems with the lower extremities. In all cases, we perform a fetal MRI to gain more detailed information and we perform a fetal echocardiogram (echo) to rule out any problem with the heart. What is the prenatal surgery for Myelomeningocele, and how does it differ from postnatal surgery? Until recently, the only way to treat MMC was surgery after birth. But, now that the nine-year long Management of Myelomeningocele (MOMS) trial has been completed, we know that repairing the MMC before birth, in the womb, can be beneficial to the baby’s outcome. The SSM Health St. Louis Fetal Care Institute has one of the fastest growing fetal MMC repair programs in the country. The results of the trial found that prenatal treatment helps reduce, or even eliminate, the major complications of MMC—the Hydrocephalus, the Chiari malformation, and the lack of movement in the lower extremities. Diagnosis and repair of the MMC before birth can make a big difference in the way the baby develops. The MOMS trial showed that babies treated in the womb need half the VP shunts, often have reversal of the Arnold-Chiari malformation, and are more likely to walk, at least until 30 months. Long-term follow up data of children treated with prenatal surgery is still being collected, so the benefit beyond 30 months is not fully known. The operation for open fetal surgery for MMC repair involves making a small opening in the uterus, then closing the spinal cord opening just like after birth. The womb is repaired and the mother is in the hospital for four to five days. The surgery is performed between 19 and 26 weeks of the pregnancy. Mothers usually stay locally for about two weeks so that we can monitor the pregnancy. After this, they can return home for delivery. Because of the scar caused by the surgery on the uterus, the baby and all future babies have to be delivered by Cesarean birth. The benefit to the fetal repair is several fold. First, the spine is protected after the fetal repair. The spine can no longer be damaged during the pregnancy and after. Second, the leakage of CSF is stopped. We think that this causes the brain to rise back into the skull, allowing the fluid within the brain to drain normally and preventing the development of Hydrocephalus. As with any prenatal surgery, there are risks to both the mother and the baby. Our team at the Fetal Care Institute will discuss all of the risks and benefits of the surgery with you and your family, so you can make the best decision for your baby. The standard care for babies with spina bifida is to repair the defect after birth. The neurosurgeon closes the opening of the spinal cord, and restores the muscle, skin, and tissue to cover it. Unfortunately, postnatal surgery cannot restore any of the function that has been lost during the pregnancy, and the damage from Hydrocephalus, the Chiari malformation, and/or loss of movement are then permanent. How will Myelomeningocele impact my baby after birth? MMC is a disease affecting many parts of the body. There can be a major impact on a baby’s leg and hip movement, depending on the level of the defect. Problems with Hydrocephalus and the Arnold-Chiari malformation need to be followed carefully. Because the spinal cord also affects urine and bowel function, these bodily functions often need to be managed to prevent complications. Optimally, babies need to be followed in a spina bifida clinic, where a team of specialists work together to help determine the best course of treatment. At SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, a long established spina bifida clinic is available for follow up care after birth. This is a very specialized clinic in which many doctors of different specialties and nurses are dedicated to the care of these babies.

Interstitial cystitis is a clinical syndrome characterized by daytime and nighttime urinary frequency, urgency, and pelvic pain of unknown etiology. Interstitial cystitis has no clear etiology or pathophysiology, and diagnostic criteria for the syndrome remain undefined. Despite considerable research, universally effective treatments do not exist; therapy usually consists of various supportive, behavioral, and pharmacologic measures. Surgical intervention is rarely indicated. The International Continence Society has coined the term painful bladder syndrome (suprapubic pain with bladder filling associated with increased daytime and nighttime frequency, in the absence of proven urinary infection or other obvious pathology) and reserves the diagnosis of interstitial cystitis for patients with characteristic cystoscopic and histologic features of the condition.[1] An international consensus panel was able to generally agree on the following definition of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS): unpleasant sensation (pain, pressure, discomfort) perceived to be related to the urinary bladder and associated with lower urinary tract symptoms of more than 6 weeks duration, in the absence of infection or other identifiable causes. American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines published in 2011 and amended in 2014 use an evidence-based approach to provide a clinical framework for the diagnosis and management of this condition.[2, 3, 4] In 1887, Skene initially described a condition characterized by inflammation that destroyed the urinary bladder "mucous membrane partly or wholly and extended to the muscular parietes." Guy Hunner popularized the disease with the description of characteristic bladder wall ulcers in association with a symptom complex of chronic bladder inflammation.[5] The first comprehensive epidemiologic description of interstitial cystitis is credited to Hand, who in 1949 described the widespread, small, submucosal bladder hemorrhages and the significant variation in bladder capacity characteristic of the condition. Despite years of intensive research, there are no specific clinical or urinary markers currently clinically available; no absolutely specific radiographic, laboratory, or serologic findings; and no biopsy patterns that are pathognomonic for interstitial cystitis. Some research suggests that the following may all play a role in the disease pathophysiology: (1) pelvic floor dyfunction, (2) dysregulated immune or inflammatory signals, (3) neural hypersensitivity, and (4) disruption of the proteoglycan/glycosaminoglycan (GAG) layer.[6] Interstitial cystitis, howerver, remains a diagnosis of exclusion (see Presentation, DDx, and Workup.) Intensive study has been done to attempt to identify biomarkers for IC/BPS. Some interesting studies have shown that bladder nitric oxide is an accurate marker for Hunner lesions, but these are not present in all patients, and the test requires specific equipment, which has limited widespread clinical use.[7] Differences in levels of cytokines and chemokines, specifically CXCL-10, have shown some ability to differentiate patients with and without Hunner lesions.[8] Other studies of ulcerative IC/BPS have shown that numerous other cytokines and chemokines are up-regulated as well, heralding a possible urinary test to identify patients.[9] An additional substance shown to be up-regulated in IC/BPS patients is antiproliferative factor (APF). This small 8–amino-acid peptide has been associated with suppression of cell growth, increases in transcellular permeability, and lowering of levels of proteins that form intercellular junctional complexes. It is synthesized and secreted from bladder epithelial cells from patients with IC/BPS and may play a key role in pathophysiology.[10] In vitro studies have shown that removal of APF from cell culture media restored cell proliferation and membrane integrity.[11] Studies have also suggested APF in the therapeutic effect of hydrodistension in patients with IC/BPS, although further confirmatory studies are necessary.[12] The most important element in treating patients with interstitial cystitis is education and emotional support. Periodic exacerbations are managed as they occur because no long-term therapy has been shown to prevent or delay recurrent episodes. Therefore, the purpose of treatment is to palliate and alleviate symptoms. Because no discrete pathognomonic pathologic criteria exist for assessing and monitoring disease severity, indications and goals for treatment are based on the degree of patient symptoms. Assessing patient response to treatment is also complicated because of the subjective nature of symptoms; the waxing and waning nature of symptoms without treatment; and the lack of objective serologic, physical, or histopathologic findings. Conservative measures and oral or intravesical treatments are considered first-line treatment. (See Treatment.)

New CPR Guidelines For Adults

Pulmonary surfactant is a mixture of lipids and proteins that is produced by alveolar type II epithelial cells (AEC2) and secreted into the airspaces. Phospholipids are the major component of surfactant by weight, and are essential for lowering surface tension at the air-liquid interface, which prevents alveolar collapse at end-expiration. Four proteins highly expressed in the lung and found in surfactant are designated surfactant proteins (SP) A, B, C, and D. Additional proteins including ABCA3 and NKX2.1 are also important for the production of functional surfactant. The surfactant proteins are developmentally regulated, such that their expression increases in later gestation

Specific treatment for menorrhagia is based on a number of factors, including: Your overall health and medical history The cause and severity of the condition Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures or therapies The likelihood that your periods will become less heavy soon Your future childbearing plans Effects of the condition on your lifestyle Your opinion or personal preference Drug therapy for menorrhagia may include: Iron supplements. If you also have anemia, your doctor may recommend that you take iron supplements regularly. If your iron levels are low but you're not yet anemic, you may be started on iron supplements rather than waiting until you become anemic. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen (Aleve), help reduce menstrual blood loss. NSAIDs have the added benefit of relieving painful menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea). Tranexamic acid. Tranexamic acid (Lysteda) helps reduce menstrual blood loss and only needs to be taken at the time of the bleeding. Oral contraceptives. Aside from providing birth control, oral contraceptives can help regulate menstrual cycles and reduce episodes of excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding. Oral progesterone. When taken for 10 or more days of each menstrual cycle, the hormone progesterone can help correct hormone imbalance and reduce menorrhagia. The hormonal IUD (Mirena). This intrauterine device releases a type of progestin called levonorgestrel, which makes the uterine lining thin and decreases menstrual blood flow and cramping. If you have menorrhagia from taking hormone medication, you and your doctor may be able to treat the condition by changing or stopping your medication.

New Minimally Invasive Procedure with No Pain or Downtime… From Dr. Michael Goodman, Caring For Women Wellness Center Laser Vaginal Tightening for Improved Sexual Pleasure and Relief from Minimal Urinary Incontinence Laser Vaginal Therapy for reversing Vaginal Atrophy (Good also for Breast Cancer Survivors with Vaginal Atrophy)

Face transplant candidates go through an extensive screening process that is likely to last several months. This screening includes a psychiatric and social support evaluation and a series of imaging tests to help determine a patient’s physical and mental readiness for the procedure. If, upon completion of the screening process, it is determined that a patient is a suitable candidate, we will place the patient on a transplant waiting list. We will then begin working with the New England Organ Bank (NEOB) team to find a donor who matches the recipient’s tissue requirements – e.g., similar age, right blood type. This search could take many months, and, if a suitable donor is not found within one year, we will speak with the patient to determine whether they’re willing to continue waiting. When a donor is found, we will immediately inform the patient about when to arrive at the hospital for the operation. As the timing for this type of procedure is extremely important, patients are expected to be readily available, i.e., reside within a 12-hour travel radius of BWH.

To understand high blood cholesterol (ko-LES-ter-ol), it helps to learn about cholesterol. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that’s found in all cells of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs. However, cholesterol also is found in some of the foods you eat. Cholesterol travels through your bloodstream in small packages called lipoproteins (lip-o-PRO-teens). These packages are made of fat (lipid) on the inside and proteins on the outside. Two kinds of lipoproteins carry cholesterol throughout your body: low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Having healthy levels of both types of lipoproteins is important. LDL cholesterol sometimes is called “bad” cholesterol. A high LDL level leads to a buildup of cholesterol in your arteries. (Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to your body.) HDL cholesterol sometimes is called “good” cholesterol. This is because it carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver. Your liver removes the cholesterol from your body.

Treatment for kidney stones varies, depending on the type of stone and the cause. Small stones with minimal symptoms Most kidney stones won't require invasive treatment. You may be able to pass a small stone by: Drinking water. Drinking as much as 2 to 3 quarts (1.9 to 2.8 liters) a day may help flush out your urinary system. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, drink enough fluid — mostly water — to produce clear or nearly clear urine. Pain relievers. Passing a small stone can cause some discomfort. To relieve mild pain, your doctor may recommend pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve). Medical therapy. Your doctor may give you a medication to help pass your kidney stone. This type of medication, known as an alpha blocker, relaxes the muscles in your ureter, helping you pass the kidney stone more quickly and with less pain. Large stones and those that cause symptoms Kidney stones that can't be treated with conservative measures — either because they're too large to pass on their own or because they cause bleeding, kidney damage or ongoing urinary tract infections — may require more extensive treatment. Procedures may include: Using sound waves to break up stones. For certain kidney stones — depending on size and location — your doctor may recommend a procedure called extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). ESWL uses sound waves to create strong vibrations (shock waves) that break the stones into tiny pieces that can be passed in your urine. The procedure lasts about 45 to 60 minutes and can cause moderate pain, so you may be under sedation or light anesthesia to make you comfortable. ESWL can cause blood in the urine, bruising on the back or abdomen, bleeding around the kidney and other adjacent organs, and discomfort as the stone fragments pass through the urinary tract. Surgery to remove very large stones in the kidney. A procedure called percutaneous nephrolithotomy (nef-row-lih-THOT-uh-me) involves surgically removing a kidney stone using small telescopes and instruments inserted through a small incision in your back. You will receive general anesthesia during the surgery and be in the hospital for one to two days while you recover. Your doctor may recommend this surgery if ESWL was unsuccessful. Using a scope to remove stones. To remove a smaller stone in your ureter or kidney, your doctor may pass a thin lighted tube (ureteroscope) equipped with a camera through your urethra and bladder to your ureter. Once the stone is located, special tools can snare the stone or break it into pieces that will pass in your urine. Your doctor may then place a small tube (stent) in the ureter to relieve swelling and promote healing. You may need general or local anesthesia during this procedure. Parathyroid gland surgery. Some calcium phosphate stones are caused by overactive parathyroid glands, which are located on the four corners of your thyroid gland, just below your Adam's apple. When these glands produce too much parathyroid hormone (hyperparathyroidism), your calcium levels can become too high and kidney stones may form as a result. Hyperparathyroidism sometimes occurs when a small, benign tumor forms in one of your parathyroid glands or you develop another condition that leads these glands to produce more parathyroid hormone. Removing the growth from the gland stops the formation of kidney stones. Or your doctor may recommend treatment of the condition that's causing your parathyroid gland to overproduce the hormone.

The gradual curves of the human spine allow the body to absorb many shocks and stresses in daily life. It’s a delicate balance, though, and if part of the spine curves too much, pain and limited mobility may result.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) is a hereditary condition associated with three primary types of tumors: medullary thyroid cancer, parathyroid tumors, and pheochromocytoma. MEN2 is classified into three subtypes based on clinical features. MEN2A, which affects 60% to 90% of MEN2 families Medullary thyroid cancer: 98% to 100% with MEN2A are affected Pheochromocytoma, a typically benign (noncancerous) tumor of the adrenal glands: 50% with MEN2A affected Parathyroid adenoma (benign tumor) or hyperplasia, meaning increased size, of the parathyroid gland: 5% to 10% with MEN2A affected MEN2B, which affects 5% of MEN2 families Medullary thyroid cancer: 98% to 100% with MEN2B affected Pheochromocytoma: 50% with MEN2B affected Mucosal neuromas, which is a benign tumor of nerve tissue on the tongue, lips and throughout the gastrointestinal tract: 95% to 98% affected Digestive problems caused by disordered nerves in the gastrointestinal tract: 75% to 90% affected Muscle, joint, and spinal problems: 95% affected Typical facial features, including swollen lips and thick eyelids: 75% to 90% affected Familial medullary thyroid cancer (FMTC), which affects 5% to 35% of MEN2 families Medullary thyroid carcinoma only Sources: Gagel RF, Marx SJ. “Multiple endocrine neoplasia.” Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, Chapter 40, 11th ed., Philadelphia, 2008, and Eng C, Clayton D, et al. Grubbs EG, Gagel RF. My, How Things Have Changed in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2A! J Clin Endocrinol Metab 100(7):2532-5, 7/2015. PMID: 26151398. What causes MEN2? MEN2 is a genetic condition. This means that the cancer risk and other features of MEN2 can be passed from generation to generation in a family. The gene associated with MEN2 is called RET. A mutation (alteration) in the RET gene gives a person an increased risk of developing medullary thyroid cancer and other tumors associated with MEN2.

CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, is a treatment that uses mild air pressure to keep the airways open. CPAP typically is used by people who have breathing problems, such as sleep apnea. CPAP also may be used to treat preterm infants whose lungs have not fully developed.

A stress ulcer is a single or multiple mucosal defect which can become complicated by upper gastrointestinal bleeding during the physiologic stress of serious illness.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. A high BMI can be an indicator of high body fatness. BMI can be used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems but it is not diagnostic of the body fatness or health of an individual.May 15, 2015

Each year, thousands of babies in the U.S. are born addicted to opiates. And the problem is getting worse.

If your knee is severely damaged by arthritis or injury, it may be hard for you to perform simple activities, such as walking or climbing stairs. You may even begin to feel pain while you are sitting or lying down. If nonsurgical treatments like medications and using walking supports are no longer helpful, you may want to consider total knee replacement surgery. Joint replacement surgery is a safe and effective procedure to relieve pain, correct leg deformity, and help you resume normal activities. Knee replacement surgery was first performed in 1968. Since then, improvements in surgical materials and techniques have greatly increased its effectiveness. Total knee replacements are one of the most successful procedures in all of medicine. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, more than 600,000 knee replacements are performed each year in the United States. Whether you have just begun exploring treatment options or have already decided to have total knee replacement surgery, this article will help you understand more about this valuable procedure.

The Irish Thoracic Society speak about the importance of Exercise with Chronic or Acute Respiratory illnesses/ Diseases and respiratory distress

Check out the remarkable bond between the mother and her baby.

COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary (lung) disease. COPD is a term applied to a family of diseases that includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema due to alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. COPD usually progresses gradually, causing limited airflow in and out of the lungs. COPD adds to the work of the heart. Diseased lungs might reduce the amount of oxygen that goes to the blood. High blood pressure in blood vessels from the heart to the lungs makes it difficult for the heart to pump. Lung disease can also cause the body to produce too many red blood cells, which might make the blood thicker and harder to pump.

http://stop-ear-ringing.info-pro.co ------ Ringing In Ears Dizziness, Can You Get Rid Of Tinnitus, Non Stop Ringing In Ear, Reduce Tinnitus Do you suddenly get up in the middle of the night hearing strange noises? Yes it can definitely be frightening, more so when you cannot find the source. Now consider for a moment that these sounds are coming from within you. Most people would be stunned to know that. Many of us do not even know that our internal organs can make sounds. Let us try to see whether you actually heard these noises or not, and if you did, where did they come from. Now before anything, let us get this straight - yes, you actually heard those noises. No, they are not a result of a creative mind that imagined things in slumber. But having said that, it is also true that there is indeed no source of the sounds you heard. So what is it? Confused? This is a classic case of tinnitus. What is tinnitus? What you experienced last night (or did you just get up from sleep and switch on the computer) is a classic case of tinnitus. This is a medical condition wherein a person hears all kinds of strange clicking, ringing, buzzing, whistling or hissing sounds within the ear. What's so worrisome about this condition for a lot of people is that, there's actually no physical source of these sounds. What makes it even worse is that, no one else seems to hear them. Frankly, these people cannot be really blamed. Naturally, if you cannot see where the sound is coming from, and if you keep hearing it, you are bound to get worried. In tinnitus, the sounds a person hears are actually perceptions. Since there's no actual source, they are often referred to as "phantom noises". Will it help you if you knew that about 8% of all people in the US suffer from tinnitus? Perhaps not, but at least now you know that you are not alone who hears these strange noises.