"HIV vs. AIDS: Differences and connections"

Although the terms HIV and AIDS are often used interchangeably, there are differences between the two diagnoses.

HIV is a virus that attacks a type of white blood cells called CD4 cells in the body's immune system. HIV reduces the body's ability to fight infection and illness. While humans can fight off many other viruses, the body can never completely remove HIV once it is contracted.

AIDS is a condition that may develop after a person gets HIV. It is possible to have HIV without developing AIDS, but it is not possible to have AIDS without first having HIV.

How does HIV lead to AIDS?

Not everyone who gets HIV goes on to develop AIDS. However, a proper treatment program is necessary to slow or stop this progression in most cases.

If left untreated, HIV continues to damage the immune system and increases the risk of developing an opportunistic infection.

Opportunistic infections

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define opportunistic infections as "infections that occur more frequently and are more severe in individuals with weakened immune systems."

Examples of opportunistic infections that develop in those with HIV include:

• cancers, such as invasive cervical cancer, lung cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma, carcinomas, and lymphomas
• candidiasis, a fungal infection of the mouth, throat, or vagina
• cytomegalovirus, a viral infection that can cause blindness
• pneumocystis pneumonia, a fungal form of pneumonia that can be fatal
• toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection of the brain
• tuberculosis, a bacterial infection of the lungs

AIDS: Stage 3 of HIV infection

AIDS is the final stage (stage 3) of HIV infection. It is diagnosed based on a CD4 cell count or the development of one or more opportunistic infections. Stage 1 is the acute stage of HIV and stage 2 is the clinical latency stage. More information on these two stages is included later in the article.

The CD4 cell count in healthy individuals ranges from 500 to 1,600 cells per cubic millimeter of blood (cells/mm3). According to AIDS.gov, those with HIV are considered to have developed AIDS when their CD4 cell count drops to under 200 cells/mm3.

If treatment is not sought, AIDS typically develops between 2 and 15 years after infection with HIV. The rate at which the virus develops depends on many factors, including the patient's age, general health, genetics, the presence of other infections, and standard of health care.

People who seek treatment before the condition advances, and maintain treatment throughout their lives, can usually expect to live almost as long as a person without HIV.

Source: Medical News Today 

"What causes mucus strands in the eyes?"

When strands of mucus continually develop and a person keeps removing them from their eye, this is known as mucus fishing syndrome. The name refers to the way a person "fishes" these strands from their eye.

Mucus can appear in the eye for many reasons, such as irritation and infection. Sometimes, when a person pulls mucus from their eye, the eye becomes irritated, causing more mucus to develop. The more a person removes the mucus, the more mucus the eye produces.

However, there are ways to break this pattern. Read on to discover what causes mucus fishing syndrome, how to prevent it, and how to treat the condition when it occurs.

Symptoms

Symptoms of an eye infection may include redness, pain, and watery eyes.

The primary symptom of mucus fishing syndrome is the frequent removal of strands of mucus from the surface of the eye. Constant repetition of this action makes it more likely that eye irritation and infection will occur.

A person with an eye infection may have the following symptoms:

• redness in or around the eye
• watering eyes
• pain, such as a burning or stinging sensation
• inflammation around the eye

Causes

A person develops mucus fishing syndrome due to an overproduction of mucus in the eye.

Conditions that cause the syndrome include:

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is a contagious condition that causes the eyes to become pink and painful. It usually affects both eyes. Conjunctivitis can occur because of a particular allergy, bacteria, or virus.

Symptoms of conjunctivitis include:

• red or pink eyes
• an itchy or burning feeling in the eyes
• watery eyes
• sticky pus in and around the eyes.

Regular hand washing, trying not to touch the eye area, and avoiding sharing pillows or towels will reduce the risk of passing conjunctivitis to others.

What is infective conjunctivitis, or pink eye?

Conjunctivitis, also called pink eye, is one possible reason for a person to have mucus on the surface of their eye. Learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatment for conjunctivitis here.

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Dacryocystitis

Dacryocystitis is an eye infection that affects the tear ducts. It can occur when the tear ducts become blocked, causing the eye to produce a sticky discharge.

Infants are more likely to be affected, though adults may also be susceptible.

Body-focused repetitive behavior disorder

A person with body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) disorder may habitually rub their eyes, which can irritate the surface and cause the eye to produce extra mucus.

Typically, a person with this disorder repeatedly performs particular actions, such as rubbing their eyes, pulling their hair, or biting their nails. They find it difficult to stop or control how many times they do this, which can cause damage to their physical and mental health.

BRFB affects around 1 in 20 people, and stress and boredom can make it worse.

Dry eye syndrome

Dry eye syndrome occurs when a person's tears do not lubricate the eye enough. The eye tries to compensate for this by producing more tears, which causes a person to excessively touch their eyes to wipe the tears away.

Constant touching can lead to eye infections, as well as cause the eye to become irritated and inflamed.

Blepharitis

Tears contain many different substances, including water, salt, mucus, and oil. When the glands that produce the oil do not work well, blepharitis can develop, causing the eyelids to become inflamed and crusty.

Symptoms of blepharitis include excessive tear production, eye redness, and eyelashes sticking together and becoming crusty.

Diagnosis

Seeing a doctor is recommended if mucus discharge from the eye will not go away.

If mucus discharge from the eye will not go away, a person should make an appointment with their doctor as soon as possible. Doing so will lessen the chances of the eye becoming infected.

It is important that a person tells the doctor about the symptoms they experience, and how often they pull mucus from their eye, as this will help the doctor to make a quick diagnosis.

Because mucus fishing syndrome is usually due to irritation or an underlying condition, a doctor will probably talk about any other symptoms a person is experiencing to work out the underlying cause. The doctor will usually perform an examination that involves artificially dilating the pupil and examining the eye.

It is important to note that if a doctor needs to dilate the eyes, some people might not feel comfortable driving afterward. In these situations, a person should arrange transport home from the appointment. Those who have undergone artificial dilation before may choose to drive themselves home. However, they should wear sunglasses to help with any light sensitivity that might result from the procedure.

Treatment

Once a person stops touching their eye to remove excess mucus, mucus fishing syndrome will clear up.

However, if an underlying condition, such as dry eye syndrome or conjunctivitis, is causing mucus fishing syndrome, additional treatment may be necessary.

A doctor may recommend:

• antibiotics
• steroid eye drops
• eye drops to help lubricate the eye
• warm or cold compresses to soothe and help reduce inflammation

It might be challenging to stop fishing for mucus at first. But, once a person has broken the cycle, their eye will eventually stop producing mucus and start to clear.

People who have BFRB disorder may find this more difficult. If a person has BFRB disorder, a doctor may recommend treatment from a therapist to try to stop this behavior from occurring.

Treatment for BRFB consists of behavioral therapy, which involves using a series of techniques to train a person to reverse their repetitive habits.

Tips for healthy eyes

A person should always wash their hands before touching their eyes or contact lenses.

While some eye conditions are unavoidable, there are measures a person can take to help keep their eyes healthy:

• avoiding touching the eyes where possible
• ensuring hands are clean when touching eyes is unavoidable
• washing hands before inserting or touching contact lenses
• cleaning contact lenses thoroughly and replacing the lens case on a regular basis
• avoiding cigarette smoke, as this can irritate the eyes
• wearing sunglasses with appropriate UV protection on bright days
• booking an annual eye examination, including pupil dilation to ensure any eye condition or degeneration is caught and treated as early as possible
• eating foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon and tuna, and plenty of dark leafy greens
• wearing appropriate eyewear when playing sports or taking part in activities that could potentially damage the eyes
• when using eye drops, avoid letting the tip touch the hands or face as this can make an eye infection more likely – use preservative-free eye drops where possible
• using the 20-20-20 rule if a person's job involves looking at screens a lot — the rule is to look at an object 20 feet away, for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes
• blinking often to reduce eye strain

Anyone who suspects they have an eye condition should make an appointment with their doctor as soon as possible and follow their advice and recommendations.

Source: Medical News Todayhttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321722.php

"Home Remedies For Ovarian Cyst Symptoms"

Ovarian cysts are noncancerous masses that grow on the ovaries. Many cysts cause no symptoms, but others can be painful or make a woman's period heavier.

Women who suspect they have ovarian cysts should see a doctor before trying any home treatments, as it is essential to diagnose the cause of the cyst.

Severe pain caused by an ovarian cyst may indicate that it has ruptured or damaged the ovary or fallopian tube. A ruptured cyst can be a medical emergency.

In this article, we look at a variety of home remedies to treat symptoms of an ovarian cyst, as well as medical treatment options and when to see a doctor.

What are ovarian cysts?

Often, there are no symptoms with ovarian cysts, but sometimes there is pain. If pain occurs, relaxation techniques may help.

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that grow on a woman's ovary. They are relatively widespread and usually harmless. Many women have no symptoms at all, and about one-third of menstruating women have an ovarian cyst at any given time.

The two most common types of ovarian cysts are:

• Corpus luteum cyst: This type of cyst develops in the corpus luteum, which is tissue that fills an empty follicle once it has released an egg during ovulation. These cysts may bleed and cause pain.
• Follicular cyst: These cysts form in a follicle where an egg develops during ovulation.

Neither of these types of cyst usually cause symptoms and typically disappear on their own.

Another type of ovarian cyst, a benign tumor, grows slowly and, in rare cases, may become cancerous.

Women with a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) often have multiple follicular cysts. PCOS is a syndrome that causes hormone imbalances. Some women with PCOS do not ovulate or only ovulate rarely.

Sometimes a cyst grows so large that it twists the ovary. This can damage the ovary or fallopian tube, or even cause life-threatening bleeding. This type of cyst requires immediate treatment to prevent permanent damage to the ovary. Sometimes, a surgeon may have to remove the ovary if it is too damaged.

Eight home treatments

Unless a cyst is very large or growing rapidly, a doctor will usually advise watchful waiting. This means waiting to see if the cyst goes away without treatment.

A doctor may perform several ultrasounds over a few months to monitor the cyst and ensure it disappears or does not grow larger.

Home treatment cannot make the cyst disappear. Instead, the goal is to treat any symptoms and manage pain. For example, many women with ovarian cysts experience more significant pain during their periods, so home ovarian cyst treatment often focuses on managing period pain.

Some of the most effective strategies include:

1. Over-the-counter medication

Over-the-counter pain killers can provide relief from discomfort.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, can treat the pain caused by ovarian cysts, as well as period cramps.

Women who get no relief from NSAIDs should contact their doctor, since intense pain may point to a severe complication.

In some cases, a doctor may prescribe different pain medication, such as co-codamol, which contains codeine.

2. Massage

The pain of an ovarian cyst can cause the surrounding muscles to tense up. This can be particularly uncomfortable during a period. Massaging the lower back, thighs, buttocks, and stomach can help loosen tense muscles and reduce pain.

3. Exercise and stretching

Exercise and stretching can also help ease pain linked to ovarian cysts. It can also help with muscle tension. Some women get relief from intense exercise such as running, while others prefer gentle stretching and yoga.

Exercise can support healthy body weight in women with PCOS. Even without weight loss, exercise may reduce pain by strengthening the muscles. It may prevent the development of further cysts and help combat insulin resistance.

4. Heat

Heat increases blood flow, helping to reduce pain. Try applying a heating pad or hot water bottle wrapped in a towel to the stomach or lower back for about 20 minutes. It is safe to repeat this several times a day as long as the pad is not hot enough to burn skin. Do not sleep with a heating pad.

Everything you need to know about ovarian cysts

5. Relaxation techniques

Stress and anxiety can make pain worse. Relaxation techniques, such as meditation, yoga, and deep breathing, may help relieve anxiety and reduce the intensity of the pain. These techniques can also help a person manage pain long-term and improve general health.

6. TENS device

Transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation (TENS) delivers a tiny, safe electrical signal to the nerves. This signal can change how the nerves respond to pain, helping with both period and ovarian cyst pain. TENS devices are available over-the-counter, but a doctor may also prescribe one.

7. Weight loss

If a woman is overweight, losing weight may help her body better regulate hormones, prevent the development of more cysts, and improve symptoms of pain and fatigue. It is difficult to lose weight with PCOS, so try not to become disheartened, as it may take time.

8. Dietary changes

A low-carb diet may help reduce the symptoms of ovarian cysts.

Many women with PCOS are insulin resistant. This can lead to diabetes, make pregnancy more difficult, and cause weight gain.

A wide range of dietary changes may help, but as research does not point to a specific diet for PCOS, a woman may need to use trial and error to find what works best for her.

As women with PCOS may have insulin resistance, it might be helpful to reduce sugar intake. Sugar is in a wide variety of foods, including carbohydrates such as bread and pasta.

A doctor can check a person's blood to see if they are at risk of developing diabetes. Choosing to eat healthful whole foods will help a person get their weight within a healthy range.

Other ways to treat ovarian cysts

Unless the cysts are growing or causing symptoms, medical treatment might not be necessary.

Medical treatments for ovarian cysts include:

• Hormonal birth control pills to regulate the hormones and reduce the risk of developing more cysts.
• Metformin to increase insulin sensitivity in women with PCOS.
• Surgically removing the cyst, using a small incision in the navel or stomach.
• Removing the ovary or fallopian tube if the cyst has severely damaged these structures.

A doctor may need to monitor a growing benign tumor regularly. Sometimes, a doctor may suggest removing the tumor even if it is noncancerous or does not cause symptoms.

Source: Medical New Todayhttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321685.php

"How to Stay Active in the Workplace"

Millions of us have jobs that require us to sit at desks or around conference tables for several hours per day. Many health risks are associated with sitting down for prolonged periods — but how do we stay active in the workplace? We find out.

Research has demonstrated that sitting for an extended period is linked with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and an increased risk of death from heart disease and cancer.

Excessive sitting may also slow metabolism, which has an impact on the body's ability to regulate blood pressure and blood sugar, as well as break down body fat.

Injecting physical activity into your working day could reduce some of the health risks that are elevated by being sedentary.

One study found that doing just 30 minutes of activity on 5 days each week — be it going to the gym, cycling to work, or going for a lunchtime walk — could prevent 1 in 12 deaths globally.

Being physically fit can also protect against some of the harms of stress in the workplace. Stress can lead to impaired mental well-being, depressive symptoms, and high blood pressure — all of which could lead to absences from work.

When working at a desk for 7–10 hours per day, finding opportunities to be active can be a challenge.

Medical News Today have compiled five top tips to help you stay active in your working day.

Source: MedicalNewsToday

"New Therapies for Addiction"

UT Southwestern researchers today published in Nature atomic-scale blueprints of the most abundant class of brain nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. A structural understanding of the protein, found in neurons, could lead to new ways to treat nicotine addiction from smoking and vaping.

Three-dimensional structures of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor determined by cryo-EM, courtesy of Hibbs Lab. "When this receptor binds to either the neurotransmitter acetylcholine or to nicotine, it leads to activation of the neuron, which then sends signals to other neurons," said Dr. Ryan Hibbs, corresponding author of the study and Assistant Professor of Neuroscience and Biophysics with the Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute at UT Southwestern. "This process of 'chemical neurotransmission' underlies all fast communication between neurons. This specific receptor is tightly linked to nicotine addiction."

Researchers obtained the high-resolution structures using the University's $22.5 million cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) facility, where samples are rapidly frozen to prevent the formation of damaging ice crystals and then viewed at minus 321 degrees Fahrenheit (cryogenic temperatures). UT Southwestern's facility -- which runs round-the-clock -- is one of the world's top facilities for cryo-EM structural biology.

Two novel aspects of the study make it stand out in the fields of structural biology and neuroscience. First, the researchers uncovered new biology about how the receptor binds nicotine in the brain, Dr. Hibbs said. Second are the findings related to technical aspects of how the protein assembles.

"The discovery we made about different ways in which nicotine interacts with this receptor may help in designing drugs to treat nicotine addiction and neurodegeneration," he added. "With respect to assembly of the receptor, classical structure determination techniques generally require a homogeneous sample. However, for this protein, the receptor assembles in multiple ways that have important biological consequences. For example, a misbalance in the ratio of the two subunit arrangements is tied to both nicotine addiction and to congenital epilepsy."

The protein they studied is made up of five sub-units, of two types -- α and β. These α and β sub-units assemble in two different ratios into two distinct five-sub-unit complexes, a 3α:2β form and a 2α:3β form. Complexes of both ratios are found in the brain.

Source: Science Daily

Caesarean sections and for-profit status of hospitals: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective Financial incentives may encourage private for-profit providers to perform more caesarean section (CS) than non-profit hospitals. We therefore sought to determine the association of for-profit status of hospital and odds of CS.

Design Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from the first year of records through February 2016.

Eligibility criteria To be eligible, studies had to report data to allow the calculation of ORs of CS comparing private for-profit hospitals with public or private non-profit hospitals in a specific geographic area.

Outcomes The prespecified primary outcome was the adjusted OR of births delivered by CS in private for-profit hospitals as compared with public or private non-profit hospitals; the prespecified secondary outcome was the crude OR of CS in private for-profit hospitals as compared with public or private non-profit hospitals.

Results 15 articles describing 17 separate studies in 4.1 million women were included. In a meta-analysis of 11 studies, the adjusted odds of delivery by CS was 1.41 higher in for-profit hospitals as compared with non-profit hospitals (95% CI 1.24 to 1.60) with no relevant heterogeneity between studies (τ2≤0.037). Findings were robust across subgroups of studies in stratified analyses. The meta-analysis of crude estimates from 16 studies revealed a somewhat more pronounced association (pooled OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.49 to 2.27) with moderate-to-high heterogeneity between studies (τ2≥0.179).

Conclusions CS are more likely to be performed by for-profit hospitals as compared with non-profit hospitals. This holds true regardless of women's risk and contextual factors such as country, year or study design. Since financial incentives are likely to play an important role, we recommend examination of incentive structures of for-profit hospitals to identify strategies that encourage appropriate provision of CS.

Source: http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/7/2/e013670

Daily Glass Of Beet Juice Can Beat High Blood Pressure!

Researchers at Barts and The London School of Medicine have discovered that drinking just 500 ml of beetroot juice a day can significantly reduce blood pressure. The study could have major implications for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Led by Professor Amrita Ahluwalia of the William Harvey Research Institute at Barts and The London School of Medicine, and Professor Ben Benjamin of Peninsula Medical School, the research reveals that it is the ingestion of dietary nitrate contained within beetroot juice -- and similarly in green, leafy vegetables -- which results ultimately in decreased blood pressure. Previously the protective effects of vegetable-rich diets had been attributed to their antioxidant vitamin content.

Professor Ahluwalia and her team found that in healthy volunteers blood pressure was reduced within just 1 hour of ingesting beetroot juice, with a peak drop occurring 3-4 hours after ingestion. Some degree of reduction continued to be observed until up to 24 hours after ingestion. Researchers showed that the decrease in blood pressure was due to the chemical formation of nitrite from the dietary nitrate in the juice.

The nitrate in the juice is converted in saliva, by bacteria on the tongue, into nitrite. This nitrite-containing saliva is swallowed, and in the acidic environment of the stomach is either converted into nitric oxide or re-enters the circulation as nitrite. The peak time of reduction in blood pressure correlated with the appearance and peak levels of nitrite in the circulation, an effect that was absent in a second group of volunteers who refrained from swallowing their saliva during, and for 3 hours following, beetroot ingestion.

Source: ScienceDaily