Gallbladder Disease...Cholecystectomy?????

In class we recently learned about the function of specific body parts. One important piece of the body we discussed was the liver. We learned that the liver is a power house that...

1. Produces bile that carries away waste and breaks down fat
2. It detoxes blood
3. Regulates the blood glucose level with the process of glucose, glucagon, and glucagon
4. Resists infection by cleaning the blood and filtering out some bacteria
5. First to see nutrients
6. Regulates blood clotting

While learning about the liver, we learned that it does not work alone. There is something called the gallbladder right under our good friend the liver that is supposed to be responsible for storing bile. The bile is made in the liver and travels to the gallbladder until it can be used to when breaking down fats. Knowing that the gallbladder and liver are connected in helping break down foods and fats while also storing bile, what happens when the gallbladder goes nuts?

I was interested in this topic while learning about the liver. Why? Well because I've had a laproscopic cholecystectomy...a big word for removing a gallbadder with small incision with a robot like instrument. I posted a question on Piazza asking how I can function with a lack of gallbladder if the bile and liver are so important?

Let me explain my situation pre-surgery. After having my son, I started to have gnarly pain shooting up my abdomen on the right side. When I inhaled it would feel like a daggar in my back along with the fact that I was puking my brains out and would often throw up this lovely acidy bile tasting yellow or brown crap forever. After going to the doctor, he ran a few test and concluded that I had gallstones. Which, in the words of my doctors looked like a little bag full of marbles. These nasty little stones are made up of hardened bile (composed of water, bile salts, protein, billirubin, fats, and cholestorel). They hardened because the bile has too much cholesterol.

It was removed laproscopically not openly. There are huge differences between the sugeries. One requires a big incision where the doctors literally "open" you up and the other is using a robotic like instrument. I recieved three microscopic incision and on slight incision right above my belly button. My gallbladder was sucked out of my body into a little bag through my belly button!!!!!!!!

 

After removing this troublesome organ, my body began to function normally minus the excessive vomitting, pain, and random acts of acid reflux. Although the gallbladder is not vital to every day function, it  make it easier for fats to be absorbed and digested. As a result, I have to watch the foods that I eat. Any food that has too much cholesterol will send me into a fit of vomitting and pain. This is something that I believe EVERY ONE wants to avoid in life. It is amazing how the body can adapt even with bits and pieces missing. The liver is an awesome organ. It compensates for the gallbladder who currently, in my body, does not exist.

References:

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gallstones/

http://akgrupp.ee/en/patient-information/laparoscopic-cholecystectomy/

http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/gallbladder-disease

http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/digestion/liver/bile.html

http://www.gallbladderattack.com/gallbladderdisease.shtml

http://www.gallbladderattack.com/gallbladder.shtml

http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patientcare/healthcare_services/liver_biliary_pancreatic_disease/liver_anatomy_function/Pages/index.aspx



Trichotillomania

I chose something a bit different for my blog post.  I was watching my strange addiction the other day and came across this obsessive disorder.  Trichtotillomania is a disorder in which a sufferer pulls their hair.  This can range from anywhere from your head, facial air, pubic hair, or armpit hair.  This can result in very noticeable bald patches.  The severity of the hair pulling varies.  For some just an awareness of the disorder can help in stopping the urge to pull.  For other it isn't so simple



CAUSES
Doctors are not yet sure what causes Trichtotillomania.  Many think that the disorder is relation to OCD.  Experts think that that compulsive behavior may be a result of an imbalance in the brain's chemistry.  Something is interfering with the neurotransmitters in the brain and as a result problems like compulsive and repetitive behaviors arise.  According to trich.org
 "While the underlying biology is not clearly understood at this time, we do know that people with trichotillomania generally have a neurologically based predisposition to pull their hair as a self-soothing mechanism. The pulling behavior serves as a coping mechanism for anxiety and other difficult emotions. It does not hurt and they are not trying to damage themselves. While the average age of onset is 11, trich can be found in children as young as one year old. Onset of trich can be trigged by simple sensory events, such as itchy eyelashes, or by stressful life events, and it can occur quite suddenly."

EFFECTS
Trich can lead to both emotional and physical consequences.  For many their hair pulling creates a sense of shame. This can lead to potential social issues and well as severe depression.  Some people are so concerned with covering up their hair loss and and hair pulling that it can cause serious family issues

gnarly

In addition to the psychological effect Trich can have it can also have a serious physical effect as well.  Up to 50% of the people who pull their hair also ingest it.  This can range from nibbling on the hair and follicles to swallowing the hair whole.  This can result in a bezoar or giant hair ball that if not removed surgically can be fatal.

TREATMENT
Treatment for Trichtotillomania is a bit complicated because some treatments work differntly with different people.  Trich is a brain condition, so it isn't as simple as just "kicking a habit".  For many it is a chronic illness that takes years to overcome.  For many they do not even realize that they are pulling their hair.  However, there are some treatments that have been found effective in helping.  Many times treatment includes therapy, drugs, or a combination of both.  There are also a number of support groups that people can join.

If you would like to read more about Trich you can visit my sources!  Also I included a clip of the "My Strange Addiction Episode" I watched

http://www.trich.org/index.html
http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/trichotillomania.html#
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/trichotillomania/DS00895
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002485/

Down Syndrome

I chose Down Syndrome (DS) because when we were working on our group projects earlier in the class I was very interested and I wanted to learn more about the disorder.

 DS is a genetic disorder that causes delays in physical and intellectual growth and development. It is diagnosed at birth or shortly thereafter. The symptoms are mainly physical features that include: 

• Upward slant to the eyes
• Decrease in muscle tone
• Flattened facial profile
• Depressed nasal bridge
• Small nose and mouth
• Abnormal shaped ears
• Laxity around body joints
• Differences in hands and feet

Genetics of Down Syndrome 

Babies with DS have 47 chromosomes instead of 46, which is the usual amount individuals have. There are three types of DS, however the most common form is non-disjunction. 

Non-disjunction DS happens when there is an excessive amount of chromosome 21 in some or all of the cells. This occurs when a faulty chromosome divides during the cell division in the egg cell or in the sperm cell production. So when the chromosomes combine as one, and the sperm and egg come together there are three chromosomes present instead of only two.  There has been extensive research on why this happens but there have not been any discoveries as to why, we only know the how.

Living with Down Syndrome 

A case of DS occurs one in every 691 live birth, the disorder has nothing to do with race, nationality, faith, or socioeconomically status. As individuals with DS grow into adults they have the ability to go to high school and have a job in the workplace, just because people with DS look differently does not mean they are not capable of basic abilities. All people with DS have a form of mental retardation, however it is impossible to judge the level at birth. A person with DS can maximize their fullest potential through education, high expectations, and a lot of encouragement. Even though people with DS are considered mentally retarded, they are just slower and it takes more time for these individuals to process things. They do have a lot of trouble with complex thought and reasoning.

Adults with Down Syndrome

Adults with DS usually have difficulties with their heart; nearly 40% of individuals have congenital heart defects. It is very important for parents or the caregiver to pay close attention in case of any cardiac that may occur. Besides having heart conditions, people with DS may develop the following:

• Respiratory issues
• Vision problems
• Hearing problems
• Prone to illness and infections around them

Making sure that individuals have someone to look over them and having proper care is vital to living a long healthy life. The average life expectancy is around 55 years old, however there are now individuals living well into their sixties and seventies.

I hope I have provided you with an adequate amount of information about Down Syndrome. I have enjoyed researching and learning more about this disorder. If you would like to learn more about DS the following are websites I used to find my information. Enjoy!

National Association of Down Syndrome

The Features of Down Syndrome 

Down Syndrome in Adults

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that hits close to home. I have two uncles that suffer from the disease, while each case is as horrid as the next; each one has a complete different experience. While my uncle whom has had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis since he was in his mid twenties and know in his late sixties, his disease has taken the fast track and his legs are now almost unable to use at all. My other uncle who was diagnosed in his thirties, who is now in his forties only has the symptoms of eye blurriness and sometimes tingling in his arms or legs. With seeing Multiple Sclerosis in two different people, in two completely different forms it makes your mind wonder how Multiple Sclerosis affects each individual’s body.

Multiple Sclerosis or also known as MS is a chronological disease of the nervous system. When one gets Multiple Sclerosis, it attacks their central nervous system. This usually can affect their brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Multiple Sclerosis is thought to be caused by multiple environmental factors. There are doctors that will claim that Multiple Sclerosis can be autoimmune disease, while other doctors claim that the specific target of the immune system has not been identified. When an individual gets Multiple Sclerosis, the fatty substance around their nerve fibers gets damaged. The damaged fat will form a scar tissue, which leads to sclerosis, which gives it its name. Once all of the nerve fibers are damaged, it will destroy nerve impulses from the brain traveling to and from and to the spinal cord, which then leads to the symptoms. Along with each individual that gets the disease of Multiple Sclerosis, it will affect each individual in a different way. The rate of the disease, along with the symptoms that one receives will all vary.

Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis can include:

• Fatigue
• Numbness
• Walking, Standing, Balance problems
• Bladder/Bowel Dysfunction
• Vision Problems
• Dizziness
• Pain
• Emotional Problems
• Depression

Treatment 

There are not primary cures for Multiple Sclerosis. There are many treatments and strategies that are being looked at to help stop Multiple Sclerosis. They have hope that they will help stop or prevent the Multiple Sclerosis.

Resources 

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/what-we-know-about-ms/what-is-ms/index.aspx

http://www.webmd.com/hw-popup/multiple-sclerosis

Celiac Sprue Disease

I have Celiac Disease and it controls almost every aspect of my life. I didnt know much about it at first only that I had to avoid food with "gluten" in it, which comes in many forms. There is much misunderstanding about it because it is actually a very serious disease, as it is an autoimmune disease, but generally it is thought to be an allergy. I am very informed about my condition now and after our modules including digestion, I have an even better understanding of why my body attacks itself when the gluten protein enters the digestive system. It is one of the most misdiagnosed diseases as it has such a huge range of symptoms it is often though to be, Irritable bowl syndrome or even Crohn's disease.

Celiac disease (CD), also known as celiac sprue or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is a genetically linked autoimmune disorder that can affect both children and adults. In people with CD, eating certain types of grain-based products set off an immune response that causes damage to the small intestine. This, in turn, interferes with the small intestine’s ability to absorb nutrients found in food, leading to malnutrition and a variety of other complications. The offending amino acid sequences are collectively called “gluten” and are found in wheat, barley, rye, and to a lesser extent, oats* (WBRO). Related proteins are found in triticale, spelt, kamut. -Celiac Sprue Association 

The grain causes the body — in all humans, not just celiacs — to produce too much of the protein zonulin. This causes the junctions between cells in the small intestine to open too much. Things such as  toxins and gluten fragments get into the bloodstream, which is known as leaky gut syndrome. With celiac disease, the body sees gluten fragments as toxins that arent supposed to be there. The body launches an attack against these invaders, but the body also attacks itself, which gives Celiac Disease the label as an autoimmune disease. 

Celiac Disease is NOT:

• simply a food allergy (IgE).  Wheat allergies are rare among adults.  In children wheat allergies affect .04-.05% of population.
• an idiosyncratic reaction to food proteins (mediated by IgE).
• typified by a rapid histamine-type reaction (such as bronchospasm, urticaria, etc.).
• an intolerance, a non-immune system response to food.

When I accidently eat gluten I get a headache within ten minutes which leads to my face turning hot from blood rushing to it. Within an hour my vision blurs and sometimes dizziness accompanies the blurry vision. It will take about two months after an accidental eating for my intestines and digestive system to start functioning normal again. 

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-gluten-attacks-the-intestine-in-celiacs.html

http://www.csaceliacs.info/

Bacteriophage

HISTORY
     It has been known for centuries that river water could sometimes combat diseases such as leprosy. In addition, sea water, we now know, has the highest concentration of bacteriophages. In 1915, Frederick Twort discovered the bacteriophage, although he did not yet know what it was. In 1917, Félix d'Hérelle independently discovered the bacteriophage. He was the one who first understood that the virus was killing the bacterium, and he had the honor of coining the term “bacteriophage.” It was used in the U.S. in the 1940s, but was more common in countries like Georgia. Phage (short for bacteriophage) treatment has been used in Eastern Europe for decades. It was used in the U.S.S.R. in the military, but there were no official studies done, so it has not caught on as quickly in the U.S. Unfortunately, during the 1930s and 1940s in the U.S., bacteriophages were not always studied or used properly, and they fell out of favor. (Sometimes, patients were treated with a phage, but phages are very specific to the type of bacterium they kill, so sometimes the phage did no good.) Today, in the U.S., there is only one place where physicians use bacteriophages. In Georgia and Poland, the treatment is more common.

GENERAL INFORMATION 



Structure of myovirus bacteriophage
(Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteriophage)

     Phages are made of proteins which keep in the DNA or RNA. They can have anywhere from four to several hundred genes. The estimated number of bacteriophages is 10³º up to 10³². They are everywhere: on our skin, in out gut, and in our food, to name a few places. Bacteriophages kill bacteria by making a hole in them. Some phages do this by using a protein spike with an iron atom for a tip. This allows the phage to literally bore into the bacterium. Then, it releases its DNA into the bacterium so that the bacterium is forced to make more phages. Eventually, the bacterium bursts, releasing all the new phages.



    

     Mucus is made up of many mucins which, in turn, are made up of glycan sugars. It is to these sugars that the phages stick. In animals, phages are concentrated four times more densely in the mucus than elsewhere. Thus, the phages help to keep bacteria out in the first place.

 

On the left, bacteriophages attacking a bacterium (electron microscope).

On the right, computer generated model. 

(Credit: Adapted from J. Liu et al., Virology, 417 (1 September 2011), (http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/02/bacteria-killing-viruses-wield-a.html?ref=hp )

USES
     Currently, scientists are re-engineering bacteriophages to produce proteins that help antibiotics perform better.  The protein shuts off the bacterium’s ability to repair its DNA.  Normally, antibiotics damage DNA, but the bacterium can repair it. The bacteriophage used in this study does not kill the bacterium, only lames it. Therefore, the bacterium is less likely to become resistant to the phage. Currently, phage treatment is being used for food and veterinary processes. LND102 is a medication made of six bacteriophages which kill a specific type of bacterium which leads to food poisoning. (This bacterium kills one quarter of those who get it). LND102 is used in food to decrease the amount of people who get poisoned. Another company is developing patches to put on cuts or infected wounds which contain bacteriophages. It is biodegradable, and, as it decomposes, it releases the phages into the cut, so they can kill bacteria. A U.K. company is developing a treatment for ear infections using bacteriophages. In the future, bacteriophages may be used for treating human skin diseases, livestock (so less antibiotics go into the animal and eventually into us), and water. Scientists are looking at the possibility of creating synthetic phages to combat different types of bacteria. It may be possible, with the development of synthetic phages, to change the type of phage given to the bacterium so resistance does not develop.
                                                        
OUTLOOK
     Bacteriophages seem to be the solution to all our infectious disease problems. Although most phages are beneficial to us, some are not. The phage works by blowing up the bacterium. Some phages have toxins and specific genes which are harmful to us. When they bore into the bacterium, they, like all other phages, exchange the DNA in the bacterium. They also release the toxins which makes it more likely that both the bacterium and the phage will survive. When the right phage binds to the bacterium Streptococcus pyogens, the infected individual will contract scarlet fever. I think that there needs to be a lot more testing done before the phage is proclaimed to be so wonderful.  
     On the other hand, there are a lot of possibilities for the phage. It naturally harms and/or kills the bacterium (usually), and it mutates along with the bacterium. The main problem with antibiotics is that they are expensive, take a long time to develop, and quickly become ineffective against “super-bugs.” It appears that it is harder for bacteria to become resistant to phages, and, since they occur naturally, expenses and time may be saved in development. In the end, we will just have to wait and see. 

Bacteriophages bombarding bacteria (electron micrograph)

(Credit: GrahamColm, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteriophage )

                                                                                  

SOURCES   

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101547330
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89380684
http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/02/bacteria-killing-viruses-wield-a.html?ref=hp
http://www.nature.com/news/viruses-in-the-gut-protect-from-infection-1.13023
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteriophage
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120928085348.htm    

Brain Tumors

So at first a struggled a bit to find a topic to write my blog post about and found myself rereading many of the modules and articles from the class. We briefly talked about cancer and there being a cure, which led me to pick the topic of brain tumors. I specifically picked this topic because I already know a lot about them and have always been interested in learning more and more due to the fact my father was diagnosed with a brain tumor during my high school years.

One may ask: what exactly is a brain tumor and how does it effect a person? According to Science Daily a brain tumor is any intra-cranial mass created by an abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells either normally found in the brain. Brain tumors can affect a person in many different ways, depending on where it is located in one's brain. The photo below show the different parts of the brain and what they control for your body.

http://stanfordhospital.org/clinicsmedServices/COE/neuro/braintumor/patients/education.html

Brain tumors can either be classified as benign or malignant. Benign means it is non-cancerous whereas malignant means it is cancerous. Luckily in my dad's case, his tumor was benign. His tumor was occipital, meaning it was located in the back of his head, and his more specifically was on the 7th and 8th cranial nerve. Each nerve has its own purpose but I will focus on these two. The 7th nerve affects your facial movement while your 8th nerve affects balance and hearing. He originally noticed something was wrong when he could not hear out of his left ear, got frequent headaches located in a specific spot, had trouble balancing, as well as numbness in his face and tongue.

How did he get this tumor?? We have absolutely no idea and neither does the doctors. Scientists have no idea how tumor come about but people who have cancer elsewhere in the body, inherited diseases, or exposure to certain chemicals are at a higher risk, but my dad had none of these to our knowledge.

    So after we got all of this information, getting rid of this awful tumor comes next. There are several different ways to treat a brain tumor including medication, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, ect. We decided to take the route of surgery. "A neurosurgeon performs a craniotomy to open the skull and remove the tumor. Sometimes only part of the tumor is removed if it is near critical areas of the brain. A partial removal can still relieve symptoms" (Mayfield Clinic). You can see how they do it in the picture to the left. His surgery was very successful, but in the process he completely lost his 8th nerve, meaning he will never be able to hear out of his left ear. Many people have suggested an implant, but in order to do so, you must at least have the nerve there. As for the 7th nerve, it is partially there. He lost a lot of the feeling in the left side of his face as well as the ability to close his eyelid. There are many ways to help with these effect, and he has a gold weight in his eyelid to be able to help him completely close it. If we did nothing about that, we would have risked his eye drying up and even losing it.

I hope everyone enjoyed learning about brain tumors. If you have any questions feel free to comment or ask me personally. As for my dad, he is very healthy and tumor free!



References:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/b/brain_tumor.htm
http://stanfordhospital.org/clinicsmedServices/COE/neuro/braintumor/patients/education.html
http://www.mayfieldclinic.com/PE-BrainTumor.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/brain-transplants.html
http://www.braintumor.org/patients-family-friends/about-brain-tumors/symptoms-and-diagnosis.html