What do we know about psoriasis?

We know that psoriasis is one of the most wide spread chronic dermatitises, affecting about 2-3% of the total Earth population – that is 120 – 180 million people. We know that a person of any age – starting from early infancy to the elderly years – can develop psoriasis. We know that around half of the people with psoriasis have other relatives with psoriasis, which indicates that psoriasis is a genetic disorder. And we know that the prevalence of psoriasis has increased in the last 15-25 years.

Despite all that, there is still not enough of public psoriasis awareness; therefore the people with psoriasis are still often stared at because of the cosmetically appalling plaques and/or lesions on their skin.

Being a psoriasis sufferer myself, I have asked myself a question: Is psoriasis all bad and no good? Could there something beneficial about having psoriasis, especially if the itching, scaling and irritation are under control?

It turned out that some of the deviations, revealed in the bodies of the people with psoriasis when compared to the people without psoriasis, may be very beneficial.

The most notable deviation is the 20-30% raised content of the uric acid in the blood serum of the people with psoriasis.

The next question is: What do we know about uric acid?

Uric Acid was discovered in 1776 in urine, and thus it has received its name. However, uric acid is also present in the blood, the brain, and the rest of the body of every human being, as well as in the blood of the other higher primates like monkeys and lower primates like lemurs. Lower primates have lowered levels of the uric acid in their blood and a lower lifespan accordingly.

Various studies show that high levels of uric acid are transferred genetically, just like psoriasis itself. And even those people with psoriasis, who do not have any external psoriasis manifestations (i.e. the so-called latent psoriasis), also have high levels of Uric Acid in their bodies. With the elimination of the psoriatic plaques on the skin under the effect of, for example, UVB therapy, the levels of the uric acid in the body stay the same as they were before the elimination of the psoriatic lesions.

Uric acid is one of the most powerful natural antioxidants, produced by our bodies themselves.

Uric acid helps to lower the cell’s oxidation and thus helps to slow the body tissue aging. This all is achieved by the protection against the free radicals and their damage, provided by the uric acid.

Slower body tissue aging will clearly result in the prolonged lifespan of the whole body.

People with psoriasis may be paying with their red scaly plaques for this and for the other possible benefits, which uric acid may provide to the psoriasis sufferers (possibly higher level of intellectual and physical activity, possible protection from the degenerative Central Nervous System disorders, such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease and Schizophrenia, and a possible protection from a stroke).

Iguanas are not immune to falling ill. Just like humans, they can become sick at any time and when it happens they will need the necessary treatment and care to recover from their illnesses. Here are some common iguana sicknesses that need veterinary attention immediately as well as sufficient medication. Take note, otherwise you could end up losing your favorite pet.

1) Fibrous Osteodystrophy or Metabolic Bone Disease: This results from extreme malnutrition and bad feeding. When you purchase your pet, you should take advice on nutrition from the pet shop. A common issue with iguana owners is that they often like to feed their pets lettuce and squash. However, lettuce contains no nutrient value and is therefore referred to as a water sponge. What happens here is that the situation will become worse because there is a lack of vitamin D3 and therefore insufficient calcium intake by your iguana. This can be dangerous and can even lead to death. Symptoms of this disease include a soft, rubbery face and lower jaw, a swollen lower jaw, listlessness, swollen limbs and difficulty in eating. The limbs and spine can be easily fractured as well.

2) Paralysis of the back legs: This is caused by a deficiency of vitamin B1 and often the iguana’s tail will also become badly affected. In order to cure this condition, your vet will inject the essential required vitamins and minerals into your pet and will also recommend an immediate change in diet.

3) Nose abrasions: When an iguana is unhappy or insecure in its new environment it will try to escape several times and this can cause scratches and abrasions on the nose and face. While they look for an escape route they usually scratch and rub their noses on the wire, glass or plastic tank enclosures. If the abrasions remain untreated by you, bacterial infection, ulceration of the rostrum and various other deformities are likely to occur.

4) Thermal injuries or burns: If you are not careful when installing the light bulbs or hot rocks in your pet’s cage, then these areas can be easily exposed and therefore can cause burns through contact with them. Lights must be situated above the enclosures so that they cannot be reached by the iguana and hot rocks should be avoided altogether.

5) Bacterial infection: There are a couple of different types of bacterial infections that can harm your iguana. If your pet is continuously exposed to a damp and filthy environment, it may become infected with the blister disease. Lack of proper hygiene and adequate sanitation can lead to dry gangrene of the toes and nails. These areas then become dark gray or black and begin to break off. If your iguana has swelling, inflammation or pus in its mouth, then it has got the Mouth Rot infection. The pus will cause abscesses in the mouth as well.

6) Parasites: Parasites are a common cause of death in iguanas that are held in captivity. They will settle inside the blood contained in the gastrointestinal tract which is very dangerous. Parasites, like other diseases, should be treated immediately.

7) Viral Infection: There is still ongoing research with regard to the causes and cures of these infections in iguanas but regardless there are known to be very harmful to iguanas.

8) Organ failure: This usually occurs due to old age or as a result of an existing bacterial infection. Your pet will show signs of loss of appetite, bloating, weight loss, listlessness and it might even cause death.

9) Bladder stones: This can cause the abdomen to become enlarged and can cause a lot of discomfort and pain to your iguana.

10) Egg-binding: This occurs in females when they cannot pass their egg through their reproductive tract. A little assistance from you in this case can help.

These are some of the more common illnesses that can affect your iguana’s health. Should you notice any symptoms of these conditions be sure to take immediate action and if required take your pet to the vet.

Ataxia is the term given to any number of abnormal movements that take place while doing some voluntary movement. It sounds simple enough.

I guess that whenever medical terms or definitions are involved things can get a little (if not a lot) complicated for most of us so, I’ll try to put it in layman’s terms.

Folks suffering from ataxia have problems coordinating muscle movements. Often, these problems manifest themselves in the legs but also in the arms, eyes and in muscles used in speech. Some of these involuntary movements result in you experiencing incoordination or interruption in your movements. Lots of MSers have experience this type of Ataxia when we under – or over – shoot something we intended or target with our hand, arm, leg or eye.

This missing of target is a type of Ataxia known as Dysmetria. Since my diagnosis, I started to experience Dysmetria of the hand. This can make your writing and picking things up difficult or even impossible.

Your cerebellum is the part of your brain in charge of synchronizing all voluntary muscle movement throughout your body, cerebellar ataxia is the result of lesions on the cerebellum or in the nerves that connect into it. Cerebellar ataxia can result in:

Uncoordinated walking – gait ataxia.

Inability to maintain a steady posture – hypotonia.

Shaking when attempting fine movements – intention tremor.

An inability to coordinate the muscles involved in speech – dysarthia

Jittery eye movements – nystagmus

If the damage is located in the spinal cord – in its posterior columns to be more exact – the type of Ataxia that occurs is known as sensory ataxia.

Whenever you experience not knowing exactly where your limbs (hands and feet) are, you are experiencing Sensory ataxia. Another manifestation of this type of Ataxia happens when you experience an unstable stance. Common problems seen by this type of Ataxia are:

Loss of position sense

Inability to detect vibrations

Unstable stance also known as Romberg’s sign

In multiple sclerosis, the last type of Ataxia is known as vestibular ataxia which is caused by lesions to the brainstem and the vestibular nuclei. Common problems seen by this type of Ataxia are:

Loss of Balance

Dizziness

Nausea and

Vomiting (vertigo)

Jittery eye movements – Nystagmus

I know now that I experienced this type of Ataxia when I had my first MS relapse. It came with a loss of balance, dizziness, vertigo and a little jittery of the eyes (nystagmus) besides the optic neuritis that never really went away.

Contrary to what most people think, Ataxia is not a direct result of muscle weakness (atrophy) but a dysfunction in the sensory nerve inputs or motor nerve outputs.

HOW COMMON IS ATAXIA AMONG MSers?

It is estimated that between 80 and 85% of MSers will experience ataxia or tremors at some point during their disease. Ataxia is quite a common symptom in Multiple Sclerosis but is also seen in other conditions such as:

1. Spinal cord compression

2. Diabetic polyneuropathy

3. Acute transverse myelitis

4. Vacuolar myelopathy

5. Tumor or cord compression and

6. Hereditary forms of ataxia

HOW IS ATAXIA TREATED IN MSers?

In order to help you manage these symptoms, several different treatments currently exist. They can be categorized by:

Physiotherapy

Neurosurgery

Oral medications – Some of them containing marijuana or cannabis extract, isoniazid or baclofen.

The Cochrane Collaboration, currently published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010 Issue 11, Published by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. concludes that there is not enough evidence to suggest that any treatment (drugs, physiotherapy or neurosurgery) provides sustained improvement in ataxia or tremors.

The one thing everybody seems to agree on is that more research is required.

Last but not least, along with the multiple problems caused by ataxia, you may experience tremors.

Tremors are rhythmic shaking movements of different amplitudes.

Whenever I stand in the same place for too long, I experience tremors in my right knee. These tremors are nothing serious and once I start moving they just vanish. While researching the subject I found out that tremors in MSers are mostly affecting the head, neck, vocal cords, trunk or limbs.

TIPS & EXERCISES FOR ATAXIA

In ataxia the person presents.

• Incoordination
• Tremor
• Disturbances of posture
• Balance and
• Gait

Physiotherapy is directed at promoting postural stability, accuracy of limb movements, and functional balance and gait.

Postural stability can be improved by focusing on static control (holding) in a number of different weight bearing, antigravity postures (e.g. prone on elbow, sitting, quadruped, kneeling, plantigrade and standing). Progression through a series of postures is used to gradually increase postural demand by varying the base of support and raising the centre of mass and increasing the number of body segments (degree of freedom) that must be controlled. Specific exercise techniques designed to promote stability include:

• Joint approximation applied through proximal joints (through shoulders or hips) or head or spine
• Alternating isometrics (PNF)
• Rhythmic stabilization (PNF)

Patient with significant ataxia may not be able to hold steady and may benefit from the technique of slow reversal- hold (PNF), progressing through decrements of range. The desired end point is steady mid range holding. Dynamic postural responses can be challenged by incorporating controlled mobility activities such as:

1. Weight shifting
2. Rocking
3. Moving in and out of postures or movement transitions

The patient should practice important functional movement transitions, such supine to sit, sit to stand and scooting.

Distal extremity movements can be superimposed on proximal stability to further challenge dynamic postural control. For example, resisted PNF Chop or lift patterns combined upper extremity movements with trunk movements (flexion rotation or extension with rotation).

An important goal of therapy is to promote safe and functional balance. Static balance control can be improved by using force platform training. The person with ataxia learns to reduce the postural sway (frequency and amplitude) and control centre of alignment position. The added biofeedback from visual and or auditory feedback display can improve control in some patients. Somatosensory, visual, and vestibular inputs can be varied, as appropriate, to assist in sensory compensation in sensory system less involved, for example:

• Standing with eyes open to eyes closed
• Standing on flat surface top a foam surface

Prolonged latencies (onset of responses) should be expected. Dynamic balance control can be initiated using self initiated movements (e.g. reaching, turning, bending). A movable surface can also be used. For example, sitting activities on Swiss ball are an excellent way to promote balance control.

Control of dysmetric limb movements can be promoted by PNF extremity patterns using light resistance to moderate force output and reciprocal actions of muscles for example: slow reversals, slow reversal- hold. Frenkel’s Exercises can be used to remediate the problems of dysmetria. The exercises are performed in supine, sitting and standing. Each activity should be performed slowly with the person using vision to guide correct the movement. The exercises require a high degree of mental concentration and effort.

For those patients with prerequisite abilities they may find helpful in regaining some control of ataxic movements through cognitive processes.

Ataxic movements have sometimes been helped by the application of light weights to provide additional proprioceptive loading and stabilize movements. The use of Velcro weight cuffs (wrist or ankle) or a weight belt or weight jacket can reduce dysmetric movements and tremors of the limbs and trunk.

The extra weights will also increase the energy expenditure, and must, therefore, be used cautiously in order not to bring about increased fatigue. Weighted canes or walkers can be used to reduce ataxic upper limb movements during ambulation.

For patient with significant tremor, this may mean the difference between assisted and independent ambulation. Elastic resistance bands can be used to provide resistance and reduce ataxic movements.

The pool is an important therapeutic medium to practice static and dynamic postural control in sitting and standing. Water provides graded resistance that slow down the person’s ataxic movement, while the buoyancy aids in upright balance.

Swimming and shallow water calisthenics have shown to be effective in improving strength, decreasing muscular fatigability and increasing endurance. Furthermore, the use of moderate or cool water temperature may help moderate spasticity. In general folks with ataxia do better in low stimulus environment that allows them to concentrate more fully on their movements. They benefit from augmented feedback (verbal cuing of knowledge of results, knowledge of performance, biofeedback) and repetition to improve motor learning.

Gastrology is the science of study about the functions and structures in the stomach and its diseases. This has also been believed to be the study of food and wine consumption.

There would be times that we experience pain in the stomach. The most common thing that we can do is to just let it happen, sleep with it, or take some medicines to ease the pain. But this is not the proper thing to do in dealing with stomach pains. We have to see a doctor and consult them about such pain. It is much better to know the causes of pain early than regret it. The stomach pain we have felt could be gastroenteritis. What is gastroenteritis? Well, this is also known as stomach flu, stomach virus, or gastric flu. This is a disease that is obvious by an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, which involves both the small intestine and stomach. This is why we sometimes experience abdominal cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea. Although these diseases may sound so common, but it is not good if we just take this pain as normal. This could result in more a serious disease and could be fatal in some ways.

Children are mostly affected with this stomach bug, too, and are caused by rotavirus. In adults, it is caused by norovirus. These viruses can be transmitted through foods that are improperly prepared, unhygienic water, or having a close contact to persons who are already infected with this disease. Treatments for these diseases are being examined in gastrology. We must have to understand that it is a serious disease and can lead to death if it’s not treated with proper medication immediately. If someone in your family experiences these kinds of diseases, you need to keep them hydrated. But this can only be applicable for mild and moderate cases. Adequate hydration can only be achieved through oral rehydration. But in cases that are already severe, they may need intravenous fluids.

Gastrology specifies the causes of these diseases, which includes viruses. These viruses are Campylobacter, E. coli, and rotavirus. These are the primary causes of gastroenteritis, but there are still some infectious agents that can result syndrome like this. Bacterial is also one of the causes, wherein half of these cases are associated with poultry. Bacteria like Escherichia coli, Shigella, and Salmonella can be present if a certain food preparation and becomes contaminated. This will become worse when it remains at room temperature for a long period of hours.

Surely, the bacteria can increase and multiply the danger of infection to those persons who eat the food. Therefore, it is very important to always be cautious of the food we eat and the water we drink to avoid gastroenteritis.